Watch: "Like a bomb went off" – Residents react after Spokane fires destroy hundreds of homes<\/p>\n
A man arrested on suspicion of arson in a large wildfire in Spokane, Washington, was previously linked to two other fire investigations last year.<\/p>\n
Aaron Farinacci, 37, was allegedly seen kneeling near grass at the site of the latest blaze and was later found to have matches and a lighter, the Spokane County Sheriff said.<\/p>\n
The fire is the largest of three burning around the north-western US state's second-most-populous city, forcing more than 60,000 people to evacuate and destroying more than 700 buildings.<\/p>\n
None of the fires has been contained near Spokane, a city of some 230,000 people about 280 miles (450 km) east of Seattle.<\/p>\n
Sheriff: Spokane arson suspect in custody<\/p>\n
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said it was a "nightmare situation", adding: "This is likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane history."<\/p>\n
No deaths or injuries have been confirmed.<\/p>\n
But the city's mayor Lisa Brown said there was still "the potential for lives to be lost".<\/p>\n
Authorities are trying to make contact with 14 people they have been unable to reach by mobile phone, but are not yet considered missing.<\/p>\n
Sheriff John Nowels said it was likely many of them did leave but had lost signal or had depleted phone batteries.<\/p>\n
The three fires in the city – Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane – are among a total of 16 wildfires in Washington state, according to the state's department of natural resources.<\/p>\n
Firefighters have made progress against two of them, but while Tuesday saw lighter winds and cooler weather, temperatures could rise again later this week.<\/p>\n
Farinacci, who was arrested over the Old Trails fire, was being held on a charge of arson in the first degree. He was held on a $1m (\u00a3744,000) bond.<\/p>\n
He appeared in court on Tuesday via video call, but did not enter a plea to the charge.<\/p>\n