A Washington state grandfather has described a suspicious encounter with a stranger that helped lead investigators to an arson suspect accused of starting a devastating wildfire near Spokane. The witness said a man loitering near a little-used dead-end road by railroad tracks caught his attention shortly before smoke was seen rising from the same spot, moments before the blaze took hold, an account that has become a key piece of evidence in the case.

The fire, referred to as the Old Trails Fire, is reported to have destroyed homes and forced evacuations in the area, with local residents describing the devastating impact on their community. A suspect has since been arrested and made a first court appearance in connection with the blaze, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances behind how the fire was started.