Arson Arrest Made Amid Ongoing Wildfires in Washington

WHO:

CBS News - A man who was convicted of manslaughter for killing his father in 2010 was arrested.

NBC News - Police announced the arrest of a man on suspicion of arson.

WHAT:

CBS News - The man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection to the largest of the three fires burning near Spokane, Washington.

NBC News - Dozens of fires are burning across the West, and conditions have spawned a rare “firenado,” a twister of flames caught on video.

CBS News - Hundreds of structures have been destroyed so far.

WHERE:

CBS News - The fires are burning near Spokane, Washington.

NBC News - The wildfires are occurring across the West.

WHY:

CBS News - The man arrested has a history of violent crime, having been convicted of manslaughter.

HOW:

NBC News - The conditions that led to the wildfires included the occurrence of a “firenado.”

(UPDATED August 4, 2026 15:33 UTC)

A man with a history of violent crime, including a manslaughter conviction, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the largest of three wildfires burning near Spokane, Washington. The wildfires, which are part of a larger outbreak across the West, have already destroyed hundreds of structures and have been intensified by unusual conditions, including the emergence of a rare "firenado." Video footage has captured this twister of flames, highlighting the severity of the situation as dozens of fires continue to rage.