DistantNews
Support us
Man suspected of starting one of the US Northwest's devastating fires arrested
🇨🇭 Switzerland /Crime & Justice

Man suspected of starting one of the US Northwest's devastating fires arrested

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A 37-year-old man, Aaron Farinacci, has been arrested and charged with intentionally starting one of the devastating wildfires in Spokane, Washington.
  • The fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced over 65,000 people to evacuate the city.
  • Farinacci, who has a prior conviction for killing his father, is being held on a $1 million bail, as residents express anger and grief over the destruction.

Spokane, Washington, is grappling with the aftermath of devastating wildfires that have reduced entire neighborhoods to ashes since Saturday. While authorities have not reported any fatalities, over 65,000 residents have been forced to evacuate the city of 230,000 people, which now resembles a "war zone" according to some descriptions.

It's difficult to put into words this feeling of anger and disgust towards someone who disregards the fate of thousands of people.

— Kimber RenzA Spokane resident who lost her home, expressing her feelings about the suspect.

Amidst the destruction, authorities arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci on Monday evening on suspicion of intentionally starting one of the fires. Witnesses reportedly saw him near the fire's origin, and he was found in possession of waterproof matches and a butane lighter. Farinacci, who was released from prison in 2020 after serving nearly 10 years for killing his father, is now being held on $1 million bail.

It's revolting, it's awful. I hope he gets what he deserves.

— Kimber RenzA Spokane resident who lost her home, expressing her feelings about the suspect.

Residents are expressing a mix of shock, anger, and grief. Kimber Renz, a 35-year-old daycare director who lost her home, described her feelings as "anger and disgust towards someone who disregards the fate of thousands of people." She added, "It's revolting, it's awful. I hope he gets what he deserves." Renz and her family, including their pets, escaped unharmed, but the emotional toll of losing their belongings is immense.

It's hard to see all your belongings disappear like that. Grief comes and goes in waves. I've cried a lot. We try to be strong for our children.

— Kimber RenzA Spokane resident who lost her home, describing the emotional impact of the fire.

While firefighters made some progress on Tuesday due to a temporary drop in temperatures and winds, the situation remains critical. The forecast predicts a return to temperatures above 32°C (90°F) by mid-week, raising concerns about increased fire risks. The state of Washington has declared a state of emergency, and none of the three fires, which have burned over 4,140 hectares around Spokane, are yet contained. The region is experiencing one of its worst fire seasons.

They are safe, our dog and our fish too, so we are grateful to be alive.

— Kimber RenzA Spokane resident who lost her home, expressing gratitude for her family's safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog