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No evidence Spokane fires started to clear space for data centers

No evidence Spokane fires started to clear space for data centers

News ClipAFP Fact Check·Spokane, Spokane County, WA·8/5/2026

Authorities arrested a suspected arsonist in connection with large fires near Spokane, Washington. Claims that these fires were intentionally started to clear land for data centers have been deemed "unfounded" by a city council spokeswoman. The Spokane city council had previously enacted a one-year moratorium on local data center projects.

moratoriumgovernment
Gov: Spokane City Council
Authorities arrested a suspected arsonist in connection with the largest of several fires displacing thousands near Spokane, Washington. But conspiratorial claims that the fires were started intentionally to make room for data centers are "unfounded," according to a spokeswoman for the city council, which previously issued a one-year moratorium preventing such local projects from taking place.