Anita Stokes and her husband were among the thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes in Spokane due to devastating wildfires that broke out on Saturday. Since then, around 65,000 people have been displaced from their homes, with over 700 structures destroyed, mostly homes around Spokane. A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson for his alleged role in the Old Trails fire, which is the most destructive of the three blazes. Firefighters from across the US are working to contain the fires, making progress due to favorable weather conditions, but bracing for hotter and drier conditions expected later this week.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old man from Spokane, Washington, has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of three devastating wildfires burning around Spokane. The fires have forced over 67,000 people to evacuate and destroyed at least 700 buildings. Authorities believe Farinacci started the fire by using matches or a lighter, which he was found to be in possession of when detained. He is being held on a $1 million bond. The wildfires, fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation, have spread rapidly through residential neighborhoods, with some residents returning to find their homes levelled by the blaze.
Written for “Washington State Wildfires” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article presents relatively neutral language, but phrases such as 'favourable weather has helped' and 'crews make progress containing flames' suggest a slightly positive spin on the situation, which may indicate a mild right-leaning bias. However, this signal is weak and could be interpreted as simply reporting good news in a time of crisis.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.15 for article 503 · logged 2026-08-06
Spokane wildfires displace thousands, but crews make progress containing flames
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crews → displace → flames
Favourable weather has helped, but firefighters in Washington state are bracing for hotter, drier conditions
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firefighters → help → conditions
When Anita Stokes was ordered to evacuate her home in Spokane, Wash., last Saturday due to encroaching wildfires, she took whatever she could.
uncertain
she → order → wildfires
"We grabbed the cats, and I tried to pack some clothes and toiletries and things," she said.
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she → grab → clothes
"I was able to grab our wedding album, so I'm really happy about that."
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I → grab → that
Stokes was able to return to her home on Tuesday — only to find nothing left.
"
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Stokes → return → nothing
Our house is just ashes now, but I don't think it's sunk in yet.
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it → think → ?
Now, we're kind of trying to figure out what we do next."
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we → try → what
Arson suspect arrested as Washington state battles devastating wildfires
Destructive wildfires prompt evacuations in Washington state
For the time being, Stokes and her husband have parked their trailer at an evacuation site across town where they're staying with their cats.
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they → arrest → cats
"Unfortunately, we lost one in the fire, but we still have three.
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we → lose → three
'They lost everything'
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They → lose → everything
About 65,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Washington state since the Autumn Lane, Fairview and Old Trails fires sparked within hours of each other on Saturday.
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fires → evacuate → Saturday
Fuelled by strong wind, the fast-moving flames have destroyed more than 700 structures — mostly homes around Spokane, according to officials.
uncertain
flames → fuel → officials
That number will likely change once crews are able to gain access to devastated neighbourhoods.
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crews → change → neighbourhoods
A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson in the Old Trails fire, which has been the most destructive of the three.
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which → arrest → three
"This is a magnitude, a level, that no one has experienced," said Matthew Vinci, the fire chief for Spokane County Fire District 9.
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Vinci → experience → District
Vinci, who's been part of the fire service for 30 years, says these fires have hit close to home, with some of his own neighbours losing their houses.
"
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some → say → houses
It's tough to see.
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It → see → ?
Those are your neighbours, those are your friends … they lost everything.
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they → lose → everything
Crews make progress on containment
Some 1,300 firefighters from across the United States are working around the clock to keep the fires in check.
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firefighters → make → check
That number is expected to grow by the end of the week
Favourable weather conditions, including calmer wind and increased visibility into Wednesday, helped crews make progress.
"The fires did not grow, and the control lines have been put in around all three fires, and we actually have containment," said Tom Stokesberry, with California Interagency Incident Management Team 7.
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Stokesberry → expect → Team
But, he says, they're keeping a close watch on the forecast.
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they → say → forecast
"Friday, Saturday, Sunday, we're going to definitely have some hotter temperatures, some lower relative humidity, and the wind's going to increase," said Stokesberry.
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Stokesberry → go → temperatures
He said it's too soon, however, to determine how long it could take to get the situation fully under control.
uncertain
situation → say → control
"If I had a crystal ball, I could tell you," he said.
uncertain
he → have → you
