A man arrested in connection with the largest wildfire currently ravaging eastern Washington had previously been charged with first-degree murder before pleading guilty to a reduced manslaughter charge, according to court records. Aaron F. Fari faces an arson charge over the blaze, which is part of a series of wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced tens of thousands of residents to flee their homes in Spokane County. The revelation of his criminal history has drawn scrutiny as authorities investigate the cause of the destructive fires.

The wildfires have caused widespread damage across Spokane County, with ranchers reportedly moving more than 150 cattle through a town to escape the flames as the fire closed in. Local and national media have covered the evacuations and destruction extensively, with Fox News reporting that thousands of residents were displaced. Details of Fari's exact prior manslaughter conviction and the specific circumstances of the arson charge were not fully outlined in the available report.