A 37-year-old man from Spokane, Washington, was arrested on Monday, August 3, 2026, on suspicion of starting one of the biggest wildfires burning around the city. His name is Aaron Farinacci. He was charged with arson, which means intentionally setting fire to property or land, and was held on a $1 million bond, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's office. (BBC; AP News)

Sheriff John Nowels said someone saw Farinacci kneeling near grass at the spot where the fire started. He was later found carrying matches and a lighter. The sheriff also said Farinacci had a past conviction for manslaughter (the crime of unintentionally killing someone). The arrest came after a weekend in which three major wildfires burned around Spokane. Their names are Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane. In total, 16 wildfires were burning across Washington state at the same time, according to the state's Department of Natural Resources. (BBC)

The impact on people has been severe. More than 60,000 people had to leave their homes in Spokane. Over 700 buildings were destroyed, and another 400 still need to be checked. No one had been confirmed dead or injured as of the latest reports. But authorities were trying to reach 14 people they could not contact by phone. Sheriff Nowels said those people probably evacuated safely but either lost phone signal or ran out of battery. They were not officially listed as missing. (BBC)

Governor Bob Ferguson called it a "nightmare situation" and said it was likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane's history. Mayor Lisa Brown said people could still lose their lives and that it was too early to say when residents could go home. Spokane County also postponed most court cases scheduled for Monday, August 3 and Tuesday, August 4, 2026, showing how much the fires disrupted normal city operations. (BBC; Spokane County)

The broader context here is that only one of the three fires has led to an arrest so far. Farinacci was charged in connection with the Old Trails fire only. No reports have confirmed who started the Fairview or Autumn Lane fires, or whether they were set on purpose at all. Under Washington state law, first-degree arson usually means someone set a fire in a building, vehicle, or fenced area, or the fire put people's lives in danger. It carries a very serious punishment, especially because Farinacci already has a felony (serious crime) on his record.

The bigger picture is that Washington state's emergency services are stretched thin. Having 16 wildfires burning at once, with three of them around one city, puts enormous pressure on firefighters, evacuation plans, and teams that assess damage. Think of it like a hospital trying to handle a mass casualty event with limited staff and beds. Spokane has about 230,000 residents, so sending 60,000 people away from their homes is a huge displacement. With over 700 buildings destroyed and 400 more still being checked, recovery will likely need federal disaster help and long-term housing for people who cannot return home.

Several things are still unknown and will shape the coming days. The reports do not say how much of each fire has been contained, meaning how much firefighters have managed to control. Mayor Brown's warning that more lives could be lost means the danger is not over. The 14 people who could not be reached, while not listed as missing, could change the picture if they are found to be hurt or trapped. And it matters whether the other two fires were also started by people or began naturally, like from lightning. That will affect the criminal investigation and the public's understanding of what happened in Spokane this weekend.