Spokane suspect Aaron Farinacci arrested on first-degree arson charge after Old Trails fire
Aaron Farinacci was booked on a $1 million bond for alleged first-degree arson in the Old Trails wildfire that forced tens of thousands to evacuate, after investigators linked him to the blaze and earlier fire incidents.
Spokane County authorities booked 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci on a $1 million bond on Monday night after developing probable cause to charge him with first-degree arson. The suspect is accused of starting the Old Trails fire on Saturday, a wind-driven blaze that burned more than 10,500 acres across three fires and prompted the evacuation of about 60,000 residents.
Detectives say Farinacci was seen wearing a distinctive green T-shirt with the phrase “Who needs luck, I have charm” near the fire’s origin. Earlier in the summer, law enforcement contacted him in connection with a brush fire in Riverside State Park, but released him without charges. After the Old Trails fire, sheriff’s detectives identified him again, detained him near the scene, and found a butane lighter, cigarettes, and a box of waterproof matches in his possession.
"Farinacci poses a danger to the community," said Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam.
"As it happens in so many critical cases, it was citizens who were paying attention to their surroundings, being aware and willing to step up and say something that led to the quick apprehension of Mr. Farinacci," Sheriff John Nowels said.
Witnesses driving near West Euclid Road reported seeing a man matching Farinacci’s description standing by the railroad tracks shortly before smoke appeared. The fire investigators concluded the blaze likely began from an open flame, consistent with the lighter or matches found on Farinacci.
Farinacci appeared before Spokane County Superior Court on Tuesday, where Judge Tony Hazel upheld the $1 million bond. He denied setting the fire, claiming he was merely walking his usual four-mile route along the tracks. A public defender’s office has reserved judgment on the probable-cause finding.
The suspect has a prior criminal record, including a 2010 manslaughter conviction related to the death of his stepfather. He was released from prison in December 2020. Farinacci is scheduled for an arraignment on Thursday.