A man has been charged with arson in connection with a wildfire that has devastated parts of the Spokane area in Washington, according to reporting by PBS. The case has drawn attention as multiple fires affect communities in the region and residents confront property damage, evacuations and continuing threats from the flames.
Related coverage has focused on the Old Trails Fire and the allegations against the man accused of starting it. The charge is an accusation, and it has not been established in court that he is responsible for the fire.
Reports from affected neighborhoods describe homes that remain standing alongside areas that have burned. Residents have also shared accounts of losing property and belongings, while some communities remain under Level 3 evacuation orders, which call for people to leave immediately.
News organizations have used maps, satellite imagery and on-the-ground reporting to track the spread and effects of wildfires in Washington and Oregon. The fires have prompted continued attention to evacuation conditions, damage assessments and the experiences of survivors in the Spokane area.