Police arrested 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci on Monday in connection with the catastrophic Old Trails Fire burning near Spokane, Washington. The blaze is part of an uncontained wildfire complex that has destroyed more than 700 buildings, forced roughly 67,000 evacuations, and charred roughly 12.5 square miles amid severe regional drought.
A resident of Spokane, Washington, was taken into custody Monday afternoon and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three destructive blazes tearing through the state’s second-largest city.
Community Tip and Major Crimes Investigation Lead to Arrest
The breakthrough in the arson investigation came from an attentive bystander. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels told a press conference that a community member observed a nervous-looking man crouching by the roadside near a patch of dry grass just before flames erupted. Deputies initially questioned and released Farinacci after that first interaction, but major-crimes detectives quickly re-examined the circumstances.
Reviewing body-worn camera footage and witness reports, investigators concluded that the fire had indeed sparked precisely where the witness spotted the suspect. When deputies detained Farinacci a second time, they found him carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter. We believe it was matches or a lighter
, Sheriff Nowels said of the ignition source. When he was detained… he was found to be in possession of some waterproof matches and a butane lighter.
Authorities confirmed that Farinacci has a prior felony manslaughter conviction in Arizona. Court records and historical reporting also connect him to a past 2010 Seattle case involving the death of his father, though officials emphasized that those historical matters are separate from the active arson charge.
Uncontained Wildfires and Evacuations Across Spokane
The Old Trails Fire ignited northwest of downtown Spokane on Saturday before jumping the Spokane River and racing through residential neighborhoods. Together with the Fairview Fire and the rapidly expanding Autumn Lane Fire — which surpassed 5,600 acres by Monday — the blazes form the Spokane Complex. Officials with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources reported that the fires remained completely uncontained as more than 1,000 firefighters from across state lines arrived to battle the flames.
The disaster forced approximately 67,000 residents under evacuation orders.
| Wildfire Element | Reported Status and Scale |
|---|---|
| Autumn Lane Fire | Exceeded 5,600 acres by Monday |
| Combined Impact | More than 700 buildings destroyed; 400 awaiting assessment |
| Evacuations | Approximately 67,000 residents under orders |
Residents Return to Ash as Drought Stretches Resources
For families returning to survey the damage, the landscape offers heartbreaking contrasts. Entire blocks have been reduced to smoldering foundations and solitary chimneys, while across the street, homes miraculously survived thanks to resident-managed garden hoses and sprinklers.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson described the emergency as a nightmare situation
and noted it is likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane history.
With the National Weather Service issuing critical red flag warnings and temperatures projected to push toward the 90s by midweek, firefighting crews face a narrow window to secure containment lines before dangerous weather returns.
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