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Evacuations ordered; blaze uncontained
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- Aaron Farinacci, arrested for allegedly starting the Spokane Old Trails Fire, had prior contacts with law enforcement related to two other fire incidents and was found with matches and a lighter near the fire's origin.
- All three Spokane Complex fires—Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview—were caused by human activity and have burned over 10,280 acres combined with no containment reported.
- Wildfire smoke from the Spokane Complex has severely degraded air quality for nearly 600,000 residents, with officials advising vulnerable populations to stay indoors and use N95 masks.
- The Spokane wildfires have destroyed hundreds of structures, including homes, with no confirmed fatalities yet but several people still missing amid ongoing evacuations.
- Firefighting efforts have been disrupted by unauthorized drone flights over the fire zones, prompting warnings and potential FAA fines, while weather forecasts predict worsening fire conditions due to warmer, drier weather and breezy winds.
