Man arrested on suspicion of arson in Washington wildfires

A man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting one of the massive wildfires that have devastated parts of the U.S. state of Washington since the weekend.

Man Arrested on Suspicion of Arson in Washington Wildfires

A man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting one of the massive wildfires that have devastated parts of the U.S. state of Washington since the weekend, reports Göteborgs-Posten.

The fires have burned thousands of hectares of land and destroyed hundreds of structures. According to authorities, three separate blazes erupted near Spokane on Saturday evening local time. The flames quickly spread and are now regarded as among the most destructive in the state’s history.

A witness told police that earlier on Saturday evening he had observed a man in his thirties behaving nervously in a wooded area on the edge of the city. When the witness later returned home, he saw smoke rising from the same spot and immediately contacted law enforcement.

Local sheriff John Nowels said officers were dispatched to the forested area, where they located a man matching the witness’s description roughly two kilometres from the fire line. During a search, investigators found waterproof matches and a gas lighter in the man’s pockets. He was taken into custody at the scene but released following initial questioning.

On Monday, however, Spokane authorities requested the man’s rearrest. He is now formally detained on suspicion of arson in connection with one of the three major wildfires. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

The fires have forced an estimated 67,000 people to evacuate their homes, according to the Associated Press. In Spokane, officials believe roughly 700 buildings have been destroyed. Entire residential neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, with chimneys and fireplaces left as the only remnants of homes and townhouses.

The flames, which have consumed around 10,000 hectares since Saturday, remain out of control, according to ABC News.

Source: Göteborgs-Posten — https://www.gp.se/nyheter/varlden/man-gripen-misstanks-ha-anlagt-skogsbrand-i-usa.20c6e15b-b594-40e1-b7d6-4c2df64ca15f

Source: Göteborgs-Posten