A man charged with starting one of the wildfires in Spokane, Washington, that have destroyed hundreds of buildings planned the crime for weeks and researched when the weather would be best for igniting it,

Spokane wildfires have forced evacuations and a statewide emergency has been declared in Washington.

The fires have consumed thousands of acres, destroyed homes and forced residents to evacuate.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called the wildfires burning through the area the "worst natural disaster our region has faced."

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Healthy breathing is top of mind during this busy wildfire season, and on this World NTM Day, advocates are hoping to raise awareness of a serious and not-often-talked-about lung disease.

A 37-year-old man accused of setting the fire that destroyed a swath of northwest Spokane, including hundreds of homes, was arrested Monday 4 miles from the site where it began. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels announced Monday night that the man,

Police said Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was found with matches and a lighter after being spotted near the start of the Old Trails Fire, one of three blazes that have spread to thousands of acres.

The wildfires in Washington state have charred entire neighborhoods around Spokane. Videos showed flames and smoke filling the sky as firefighters work to contain the blazes amid concerns about