Ex‑Inmate Charged with Arson of Spokane’s Largest Wildfire
Michael J. Harlan, a man previously incarcerated for killing his father in 2010, now faces arson charges for igniting Spokane’s largest wildfire, a blaze that destroyed over 400 structures and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. The case highlights how past violent convictions can precede new, high‑profile criminal acts and underscores the growing strain on fire‑response resources amid a warming climate.