A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson over the largest of the wildfires that have forced more than 60,000 people to evacuate from the city of Spokane in Washington state. Three major fires have been burning around the north-western state's second-most-populous city since the weekend, with firefighters still working to contain the flames.
Aaron Farinacci, 37, was allegedly seen kneeling near grass at the site of the fire and later found to have matches and a lighter, the Spokane County Sheriff said.
More than 700 buildings in the area have been destroyed, with another 400 yet to be assessed, and thousands of acres of land have been burned.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said it was a "nightmare situation", adding: "This is likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane history."
The city's mayor Lisa Brown said there was still "the potential for lives to be lost" and that it was too early to say when people might be able to return home.
No deaths or injuries have been confirmed.
The destruction, however, has left local residents in shock and despair.
"I shouldn't have been back here, but I had to see my house,"Ken Anderson told NBC News, standing near the skeletal remains of his home.
"It seems like it's a nightmare that we are just gonna wake up from and it's all gonna be okay, but I don't think it's going to be okay."his wife, Lisa, said.
How are affected families describing the damage?
Affected families are describing the losses as sudden and overwhelming. Online fundraisers for those affected by the wildfires tell similar stories.
Jane Biernat, who is six-months pregnant with her second child, safely escaped the wildfire but lost "everything" when her apartment in Spokane burned down, according to a verified GoFundMe page set up by her family.
"In just a few minutes, their home, clothes, furniture, baby's belongings, and all their cherished memories were gone,"the account said.
"Without renters insurance, they are now faced with the daunting task of starting over from nothing."
Authorities are trying to make contact with 14 people they have been unable to reach by mobile phone but are not yet considered missing.
Sheriff John Nowels said it was likely many of them did get evacuated but had lost signal or had depleted phone batteries.
What fires are burning in Spokane?
The three fires in the city - Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane - are among a total of 16 wildfires in Washington state, according to the state's department of natural resources.
Firefighters have made progress against two of them but while lighter winds and cooler temperatures have been forecast on Tuesday, temperatures are feared to be rising again later this week.
Farinacci, who was arrested over the Old Trails fire, is being held on a charge of arson in the first degree and held on a $1m (£744,150) bond.
Nowels said the Spokane resident had a previous manslaughter conviction.
Buildings, including homes and businesses, have been destroyed, with videos from the city showing flames tearing through houses as helicopters fly above, trying to put out the flames.
Resident Anna Andreachi, who has lost her home, told partner CBS News:
"All of our memories are gone."
"My dad just died, and all of his stuff was still in there too."
One man who saved his home by digging a fire line said he felt "survivor's guilt" after his neighbour lost theirs.
"We're going to open our home to our neighbours,"Joe Cvancara said.
"I know it's going to take a long time to rebuild."
What are officials warning about now?
Governor Ferguson has issued a statewide ban on all outdoor fires.
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove said:
"Our firefighters are already stretched thin across the state, and with more heat and wind expected this weekend and for the rest of the summer, any new spark on our tinder dry landscapes can lead to another devastating wildfire."
"I'm urging all Washingtonians to not be that spark."
More than 900 firefighters have been assigned to the Washington fires, with reinforcements expected from other states soon.
Scientists have said that human-induced climate change makes the warm, dry conditions that lead to wildfires more likely - as well as leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves and potential summer droughts.
