Former Washington State Governor Jay Inslee attributed recent devastating wildfires to climate change in a video posted Sunday, just one day before Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested on suspicion of arson.

The fires, which have burned more than 10,000 acres in Spokane, remain zero percent contained as of Tuesday morning. Inslee, who served as governor from 2013 to 2025, stated in his social media post and on CNN that climate change was a direct cause of the infernos. "Climate change isn't some faraway threat. It's happening right now, to our neighbors and friends," Inslee said. "We have to fight for them."

Farinacci was arrested on Monday in connection with the Old Trail Fire, one of three blazes that have caused widespread destruction. His arrest follows a witness statement to police indicating they saw a man matching his description near the fire's origin point before the blaze began Saturday morning. The witness reported seeing the man staring at trees, crouching down near a patch of grass, and then appearing nervous before walking away.

Investigators found waterproof matches and a butane lighter on Farinacci. He was initially questioned and released on Sunday but was taken back into custody by Monday evening. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond.

This is not Farinacci's first encounter with the law. In October 2010, then 21-year-old Farinacci pleaded guilty to killing his father, Jeffrey Farinacci, 48, during an argument over washing dishes at their home in Mesa, Arizona. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and was released in 2020, with his probation ending in December 2024.

Aaron F Farinacci, 37, was arrested for allegedly starting the devastating blazes on Monday after a witness told police they spotted him staring at the trees before crouching down on the side of the road near a patch of grass, police said

Destructive Wildfires Ravage Spokane Area

The Old Trails Fire, along with the Autumn Lane Fire and the Fairview Fire, have collectively destroyed more than 700 structures. Over 65,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes. While some have begun to return as high winds have subsided, many neighborhoods have been left in ruins.

The wildfires that have burned more than 10,000 acres and remain zero percent contained as of Tuesday morning

Charred debris is left after the Old Trails Fire burned through a neighborhood in Spokane

Officials are still attempting to contact 14 individuals who may have sought assistance with evacuation. "These are people we're just trying to confirm are fine," said Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels. There have been no reported fatalities.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown acknowledged the long road to recovery for the affected communities, stating, "Everybody wants some certainty. They want to get back and have that moment of reckoning where they know whether their house is still there or not. We have hope, and we also need patience."