Police arrested four people for allegedly starting fires along the West Coast as the number of fatalities from wildfires reached 29.
Two men, one woman in California and one man in Oregon, are facing arson charges for starting blazes in areas that were battling with devastating wildfires.
In California, at least 20 have been killed as thousands of firefighters struggle to stop the blazes. Eight people have died in Oregon and one in Washington state.
Oregon and California officials warned residents to expect more fatalities.
Andrew Phelps, the emergency management director of Oregon, said the state is ‘preparing for a mass fatality event’ as thousands of structures have been destroyed, over one million acres have been charred, and ten percent of the population have been forced to flee.
Washington State Patrol confirmed that two men have been arrested for starting fires in Washington.
36-year-old Jeffrey Acord was arrested for reportedly starting a blaze on State Route 167 at Meridian. He also live-streamed himself at the scene of the fire.
The next day, 28-year-old Jacob Altona was arrested for starting a fire at State Route 512 and State Route 7.
Both Altona and Acord were being held in Pierce County Jail, Washington State Patrol confirmed to Daily Mail.
Officials also announced arson charges against 41-year-old Michael Jarrod Bakkela. He was also charged with 14 counts of reckless endangering for allegedly starting a fire and 15 counts of criminal mischief.
The fire reportedly grew and merged with the devastating Almeda Fire, which has killed at least two people.
Bakkela was seen starting a fire behind a home in Phoenix as the area was grappling with the blaze.
37-year-old Anita Esquivel was also arrested on arson charges and was booked in to Monterey County Jail.
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