Spokane man arrested on suspicion of starting largest wildfire in region
Authorities say 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci was taken into custody on a first-degree arson warrant for the Old Trails Fire that burned more than 3,600 acres and forced thousands to evacuate.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels announced that Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested Monday on a first-degree arson warrant linked to the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three wildfires that have devastated the Spokane area. The suspect was detained after a witness reported seeing a man near the fire’s origin shortly before it ignited on Saturday morning. Police said the man appeared nervous and was later found half a mile from the blaze with waterproof matches and a butane lighter, items that could start a fire.
Major-crimes detectives later matched the suspect’s location to the fire’s point of origin, confirming the connection, according to Nowels. Farinacci, who has a prior manslaughter conviction in Arizona, was held on a $1 million bond. It was not immediately clear whether formal charges have been filed or if he has retained counsel.
The Old Trails Fire has scorched 3,619 acres, contributed to a total of more than 8,000 acres burned across three blazes, and prompted the evacuation of about 67,000 residents. Federal incident commander Tom Clemo reported that the fires remained uncontained as of Monday night. No evidence has linked Farinacci to the other two fires, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.