Spokane County Sheriff arrests 37-year-old man suspected of starting Old Trails wildfire
Authorities arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson after witnesses reported suspicious behavior near the ignition site of the Old Trails fire that destroyed hundreds of homes in northwest Spokane.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels announced Monday that Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree arson after witnesses said he was acting suspiciously near the Old Trails fire’s ignition point on Saturday. Law enforcement initially encountered Farinacci about a mile from the blaze, released him to allow fire crews to focus on the emergency, and re-apprehended him around 5 p.m. on Monday.
"It is a continuing and ongoing investigation," Nowels said at a news conference.
Investigators found evidence at the ignition site consistent with a match or lighter and later discovered Farinacci possessed waterproof matches and a butane lighter. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources, leading the fire investigation, said the blaze is presumed human-caused and that natural causes have been ruled out.
"We are working with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and our fire district partners to investigate. The investigative process is very deliberative," spokesperson Ryan Rodruck said.
Farinacci, a Spokane resident with a prior manslaughter conviction in Arizona, has no known arson convictions but has previously been contacted for “arson-related behavior.” Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam credited “vigilant citizens” for reporting the suspect’s activity.
The Old Trails fire, reported around noon on Saturday near West Euclid Road and North Old Trails Road, quickly spread, destroying roughly 700 homes and joining two other fires in the county that have burned more than 10,000 acres combined. The causes of the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires remain under investigation.