The alleged arsonist in the first of three devastating wildfires in Washington state last week admitted to igniting the blaze and more than two dozen others since last year, court documents show.

Police said a man charged with starting a wildfire confessed to the crime, describing how he planned it for weeks and created a device to ignite a blaze that destroyed hundreds of buildings.

A man charged with starting a wildfire in Spokane, Washington, confessed to the crime, describing how he planned it for weeks and created a device to ignite a blaze that destroyed hundreds of buildings,

The disaster is beginning to resemble the neighborhood-level devastation seen during Southern California's deadly Palisades fire.

Firefighters made gains in containing the Spokane Complex wildfires, but weather conditions could lead to more spread as the week goes on.

More than 700 buildings in the Spokane area have been destroyed and 400 more haven't been assessed, officials said as three fires burned in the area and an arrest was made in connection with one of them.

Spokane wildfires have burned over 10,000 acres, destroyed 700 structures and forced 65,000 evacuations as smoke spreads.

The largest of three fires has destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 67,000 people from their homes.

Three wildfires in eastern Washington state have burned thousands of acres, putting 65,000 people under evacuation orders.

Fire crews in Washington state working tirelessly to contain destructive blazes in the Spokane area are preparing for a new bout of flame-fueling winds and intense heat that will arrive on Friday and continue through the weekend.