Washington Wildfires Force 64,000 to Flee

Wildfires around Spokane in Washington state have destroyed more than 700 buildings and forced about 64,000 people to evacuate.

The three blazes had burned more than 10,000 acres by Tuesday and remained the highest firefighting priority in the United States. No deaths had been reported, although some residents remained missing and several communities were still inaccessible.

Authorities have arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci and charged him with first-degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire, one of the three blazes. The causes of the other fires remain under investigation.

About 1,100 firefighters were battling the fires, with further crews being deployed as hotter and drier weather threatened to hamper containment efforts.

(Reuters, mja)