Another attempt at a "The World is on Fire" thread

[Free]

Spokane, Washington is in flames.

Washington wildfires destroy homes, force thousands to evacuate

Cooler temperatures forecasted in the Spokane, Wash. area could help firefighters in the region who are battling three major wildfires that have burned through more than 7,000 acres, destroyed some 700 structures and forced the evacuation of about 65,000 people.

The cause of the fires is unknown, but they've been fueled by high winds and hot, dry weather.

Local and out-of-state firefighters have been working to contain the blazes. There have been no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.

The fires are among 17 statewide, officials said.

 

[Casey Pelous]

The Spokane fires are pretty bad in terms of the number of people affected. The last report I saw was 65,000 evacuated. That's over 10% of the metro area population. No injuries so far, but about 600 structures destroyed.

All in all, we've burned up about 2,000,000 acres of forest this summer. We're in a drought -- snowpack was almost non-existent this year. Sunrise and sunset have that ominous orange color we see when the fires are bad, but the winds have been mostly out of the west so far, so most of the smoke is going away from where I am. There's still enough to make your eyes burn, though.

 

[Casey Pelous]

Looks like at least one of the Spokane fires was arson-caused. They've arrested a suspect, though the "evidence" they have announced is some waterproof matches and a butane lighter. Dude -- it's Spokane, aka the Fresno of the North. It is about 250 miles east of Seattle, with tons of camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, etc. I guarantee there is nothing rare about those pocket contents in that area. "

Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson for starting the Old Trails Fire near Spokane, Washington, and is being held on a $1 million bond. Investigators say a witness reported seeing a nervous man near the fire's origin before it started, and Farinacci was found about a mile away with waterproof matches and a butane lighter.

"Farinacci," eh? Given the redneck propensities of the area, he may be guilty only of existing while swarthy, though it doesn't help his case that he has a previous manslaughter conviction.

 

[Free]

Link?

Also, moar...

Man charged with setting Spokane's largest wildfire went to prison for manslaughter in dad's death

In Mesa, Arizona, in 2010, the man, then age 21, shot and killed his father during an argument about washing dishes, police said at the time.

abc30.com

A man who went to prison for manslaughter in his father's 2010 killing in Arizona has been charged with setting the largest of the wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Washington state's second-largest city and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes.

Aaron F. Farinacci, of Spokane, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the biggest of the three blazes in and around the eastern Washington city, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office said. His bond was set at $1 million.

 

[detrius]

The bond is a farce.

If there's evidence, then he's clearly a danger to the public, someone who will tamper with the evidence/witnesses or a flight risk.

Judges should check if that's the case, not the status of his bank account.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

The bond is a farce.

If there's evidence, then he's clearly a danger to the public, someone who will tamper with the evidence/witnesses or a flight risk.

Judges should check if that's the case, not the status of his bank account.

I agree, but I think you overstate the case. If there's no evidence there's no reason to charge the defendant.

In the UK bail (without any cash involved) is automatic in most cases unless the court reasonably fears that, if granted bail, the defendant won't attend for trial, will interfere with witnesses, or will commit further offences while on bail. If the defendant has previously been granted bail and then broken their conditions it's a different story, but otherwise they'll be granted bail in most circumstances, including (I think) this instance.

We do have cash bail in very rare cases, normally ones in which the defendant has ties with another country and there are reasonable fears they might seek to hide there, but in those cases the surety has to be someone who knows the defendant personally and can persuade the court that they are able to dissuade the defendant from breaking their bail -- I've known parents to put their house up as surety, on the basis that the defendant won't put the family home at risk.

But I agree, the US system seems very strange indeed.

 

[Casey Pelous]

The fellow they arrested for one of the Spokane fires is doing a terrible job of looking like "the wrong guy."

He waited and planned for the perfect time, then set the blaze, officials say. Inside the Spokane arson case

Aaron Farinacci told investigators he planned the Old Trails blaze for two weeks, using a weather app to research conditions, according to the prosecutors’ affidavit.

currently.att.yahoo.com

 

[detrius]

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