A 37-year-old Spokane man has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson in connection with one of three major wildfires burning in Spokane County, Washington, officials announced Monday. Aaron Farinacci was taken into custody after witnesses reported seeing him kneeling near grass at the site of the Old Trails Fire, and he was later found carrying matches and a lighter, according to Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels. Farinacci, who has a prior manslaughter conviction, is being held on $1 million bond.

The three fires — identified as Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane — have collectively burned more than 8,000 acres since igniting Saturday, destroying more than 700 structures and forcing the evacuation of nearly 65,000 residents from the Spokane area. No deaths or injuries have been confirmed, though authorities are still attempting to contact 14 people who have not responded to outreach. Officials said those individuals are not considered missing and may simply have dead phone batteries or have already reached safety.

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson called the situation a "nightmare" and described it as likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane's history. Ferguson told CNN that the arson arrest added to the "absolute anguish" of those who lost their homes, saying it made "a tragic situation more heartbreaking" to consider that much of the damage may have been deliberately set. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown warned there remained "the potential for lives to be lost" and said it was too early to say when evacuees could return home.

More than 900 firefighters are currently assigned to the Washington fires, with reinforcements expected from other states. Cooler temperatures and lighter winds were forecast for Tuesday, offering crews a brief window to make progress, but temperatures are expected to climb back into the 90s later in the week. Governor Ferguson has issued a statewide ban on all outdoor fires. The blazes near Spokane are among 17 major wildfires burning across Washington state, while neighboring Oregon has seen more than 2 million acres burn this season — shattering that state's previous wildfire record — in what officials describe as the worst regional fire season in more than 30 years.