{"id":1802,"date":"2026-08-04T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T09:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asianewscast.com\/?p=1802"},"modified":"2026-08-04T09:30:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T09:30:17","slug":"us-arrests-suspect-over-spokane-wildfire-as-tens-of-thousands-flee-blaze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=1802","title":{"rendered":"US arrests suspect over Spokane wildfire as tens of thousands flee blaze"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"listen-to-article\"><button class=\"listen-to-article__button\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><title>Listen<\/title>Listen (2 mins)<\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__update-reading-list-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"update-reading-list\">\n<p class=\"update-reading-list__button-text\">Save<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__button-wrapper\"><button class=\"rich-share__button row\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"screen-reader-text\">Click here to share on social media<\/div>\n<p><title>share-nodes<\/title><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"rich-share__social-text\">Share<\/p>\n<div class=\"rich-share__links rich-share__links--row\" data-testid=\"share-links\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__social rich-share__social--row\"><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fz0os81\"><title>facebook<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=US%20arrests%20suspect%20over%20Spokane%20wildfire%20as%20tens%20of%20thousands%20flee%20blaze&amp;source=sharethiscom&amp;related=sharethis&amp;via=AJEnglish&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fz0os81\"><title>x<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row u-hidden--desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fz0os81\"><title>whatsapp-stroke<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row copylink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/z0os81\"><title>copylink<\/title><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><title>google<\/title><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><title>info<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-featured__media\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-image\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/afp_6a718e496167-1785826889.jpg?resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"The rubble of a burned out home smolders in the Balboa neighbourhood of Spokane, Washington, US\"><\/div><figcaption>The rubble of a burned out home smolders in the Balboa neighbourhood of Spokane, Washington, US, August 2, 2026 [AFP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--no-avatars\">\n<div class=\"byline-content\">\n<div class=\"contributors-list contributors-list--byline\"><span class=\"contributors-list__by-prefix\">By <\/span>AFP<!-- --> and <!-- -->AP<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<div class=\"date-simple\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 4 Aug 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">4 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"231\">US authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of arson in connection with the largest of three wildfires burning around the northwestern city of Spokane in <a href=\"\/gallery\/2026\/8\/3\/wildfires-still-burning-in-france-and-spain-amid-fears-of-more-to-come\">Washington state<\/a>, where tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"233\" data-end=\"530\">Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested on Monday in connection with the Old Trails fire and charged with first-degree arson. He is being held on a $1m bond after a witness allegedly saw him kneeling in grass where the fire is believed to have started, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 4 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"more-on__list\">\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 1 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/4\/salvadoran-man-dies-in-ice-custody-at-new-jersey-detention-centre\">Salvadoran man dies in ICE custody at New Jersey detention centre<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 2 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/video\/newsfeed\/2026\/8\/4\/pochettino-agrees-to-coach-mens-us-soccer-through-2030-world-cup\">Pochettino agrees to coach men\u2019s US Soccer through 2030 World Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 3 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/4\/colombias-petro-repeats-vote-fraud-claims-days-before-handing-over-power\">Colombia\u2019s Petro repeats vote fraud claims days before handing over power<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 4 of 4<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/8\/4\/palestine-weekly-israel-kills-dozens-in-gaza-after-hamas-disarmament-deal\">Palestine weekly: Israel kills dozens in Gaza after Hamas disarmament deal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p data-start=\"532\" data-end=\"696\">The arrest came as firefighters continued battling blazes that have scorched large areas around Spokane, a city of about 230,000 people near the Idaho border.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"698\" data-end=\"968\">The fires have burned a combined 8,026 acres (3,248 hectares), according to the federal interagency fire information system InciWeb. Officials said aerial assessments indicate between 700 and 1,110 structures have been destroyed since the fires erupted over the weekend.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"970\" data-end=\"1238\">Authorities said about 65,000 people have been displaced by the fires. No injuries have been reported, although officials are attempting to contact 14 people they have been unable to reach by mobile phone. Sheriff Nowels said they are not currently considered missing.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2082\" data-end=\"2489\">Scientists say human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires by driving higher temperatures, prolonged drought and drier vegetation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2082\" data-end=\"2489\">Daniel Swain, a climatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said eastern Washington had experienced one of its warmest winters on record, resulting in a severe snow drought that helped set the stage for this year\u2019s fires.<\/p>\n<div class=\"container--ads in-article-ads\">\n<div class=\"ads\"><span class=\"ads__title\"> Advertisement <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"2491\" data-end=\"2703\">\u201cThis is a recurring pattern we\u2019re seeing now over and over and over again, starting in the second decade of the 21st century, and now continuing essentially every year,\u201d Swain said during an online briefing.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2705\" data-end=\"3170\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Extreme heat and wildfire conditions are also affecting other parts of the world. Heat alerts remain in place across much of Japan, while South Korea recorded its hottest temperature on record. Wildfires have forced evacuations in parts of Greece and continue to threaten areas of Spain and France. Elsewhere, in North Africa, firefighters have also battled major blazes in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ListenListen (2 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo The rubble of a burned out home smolders in the Balboa neighbourhood of Spokane, Washington, US, August 2, 2026 [AFP] By AFP and AP Published On 4 Aug 20264 Aug 2026 US authorities have arrested a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>US arrests suspect over Spokane wildfire as tens of thousands flee blaze - 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