Spokane Valley Fire Department Release
Suspect Arrested for Arson Charges in Connection with Multiple Brush Fire Starts Along the Centennial Trail
Spokane County and Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputies responded to multiple brush fires reported along the Centennial Trail Saturday morning and located a possible suspect.
Working with the Spokane Valley Fire Department and the Washington State DNR, Deputies developed probable cause to charge the adult female with two counts of Arson 2nd Degree. They also learned she had an unrelated active warrant for her arrest for a charge of Abuse of 911 Emergency System, and she was booked into jail.
On August 2, 2025, at approximately 7:00 am, Spokane County and Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of E. Dalton Avenue and N. Woodruff Road to assist Spokane Valley Firefighters with a brush fire near the Spokane River.
The flames were quickly extinguished as the investigation into what caused the fire began.
At approximately 11:50 am, Spokane County and Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of the Centennial Trail, northeast of Coyote Rock Drive, to assist Spokane Valley Fire Department Firefighters with another brush fire.
Deputies began talking to witnesses and learned that a short, white female with brown hair, wearing a black tank top and blue jeans, and carrying a purse, was seen walking away from the fire, and it was believed that she intentionally started them.
This suspect description matched the description of a suspicious person observed at the fire that started earlier in the morning.
As Deputies checked the area, they located a female matching the description and walking away quickly, near N. Pit Road and E. Coyote Drive.
They contacted the female, later identified as 44-year-old Sara M. Beal, and detained her while they investigated. Deputies advised her of her rights, and a check of her name revealed an active misdemeanor warrant for her arrest (Abuse of 911 Emergency System). Deputies advised Beal that she was under arrest for the unrelated warrant.
Deputies observed a large amount of what was described as pillow filling and a matchbox, clearly visible through the open top of her purse. Following her arrest, Deputies searched Beal’s purse and recovered a large amount of pillow-type filling, which had grass/branches/leaves in it, a large box of matches, more branches and sticks, a camo jacket, and a can of flammable hair spray.
On Beal’s person, Deputies also observed twigs, branches, and other brush on the bottom of her pants and socks.
Talking with Spokane Valley Fire Department Fire Investigators, Deputies learned that, based on their preliminary investigation, an incendiary substance, such as hair spray, was used to start multiple fires in the area. Additionally, they located white stuffing and matches in/near the burn area.
Through the investigation, Deputies developed probable cause to charge Beal with two counts of Assault 2nd Degree in connection with the two fire incidents, which had multiple start areas.
Deputies learned through a criminal history check that Beal was arrested for Arson 2nd Degree in September of 2023 when she was believed to have set a car on fire at the Barker Centennial Trailhead.
Beal was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for two counts of Arson 2nd Degree and her unrelated misdemeanor warrant for Abuse of 911 Emergency Reporting System.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Suspect Arrested for Arson Charges in Connection with Multiple Brush Fire Starts Along the Trail" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7