Spokane Wildfires

[Yazata]

They are calling the biggest one the Old Trails Fire. There's another one called the Fairview Fire and there's a third one further out from the city called the Autumn Lane Fire. The Old Trails Fire started just west of Spokane and has spread into the city. Structures are burning and a sudden 'Level 3' mass evacuation has been ordered for much of northern Spokane: 'Get out! Now!'. Video of burning homes reminds me of Pacific Palisades.

(I've always liked Spokane. It's big enough to have all the urban amenities, but small enough to avoid many urban problems. It's kind of found the sweet spot.)

Official perimeter map of the Old Trail Fire

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Photo taken from a neighborhood sports complex. The complex has since burned to the ground.

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Evacuating

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Firefighting helicopter working one of the fires. This appears to be further out of town, perhaps the Autumn Lane Fire. There are multiple helicopters and fixed wing aircraft working the multiple fires. The Washington National Guard is being deployed and there's video of their Chinook twin-rotor helicopters in action.

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[Yazata]

More than 700 homes have been destroyed and upwards of 60,000 people evacuated.

And at least one of the fires, the Old Trails Fire which was the most destructive, appears to have been arson. An individual has been arrested.

His name is Aaron Farinacci and he's a real piece of work. He used to live in Arizona where he shot his father dead after the father told him to do the dishes. He was originally charged with first degree murder for that, but the charges were negotiated down to him pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Now he's out and has been living in Spokane. Apparently he has been under investigation for several previous arson fires in the Spokane area, so the police were aware of him. And this time he was observed by neighbors acting suspiciously crouched down right where the Old Trails Fire started so the neighbors called the police. When police stopped him he had matches and a lighter on him.

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