The short version
- Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three blazes impacting Spokane.
- The fires have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced approximately 67,000 residents to evacuate their homes as containment efforts remain stalled.
- Federal authorities approved an expedited emergency declaration to assist local agencies stretched thin by widespread drought conditions across the Western United States.
A man previously incarcerated for killing his father has been charged with intentionally starting the largest wildfire currently ravaging Spokane, Washington. Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested on Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson related to the Old Trails Fire. The blaze is the most destructive of three separate fires that have engulfed neighborhoods in and around the state’s second-largest city, destroying hundreds of structures and forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee.
According to an affidavit filed by the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Farinacci denied setting the fire during questioning. He told deputies that he possessed matches and a lighter because he smokes. Authorities initially detained him after a community member reported seeing a nervous-looking man bent over near grassy areas where the fire later started. Although he was released after initial questioning, major crimes detectives re-examined the case and determined the ignition point matched the location described by the witness.
Sheriff John Nowels credited the quick apprehension to citizens who remained vigilant in their surroundings. Farinacci remains jailed with a bond set at $1 million ahead of his court appearance. The Spokane County Public Defender’s office will represent him during the initial hearing, with plans to assign additional legal counsel if necessary. Attempts to reach Farinacci’s family for comment have been unsuccessful.
Farinacci has a significant criminal history involving violence against his father. In 2010, while living in Mesa, Arizona, he shot and killed his father during an argument over household chores. He also shot himself but survived the incident. Records indicate that Farinacci pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012 and was released from prison in 2020. This prior conviction adds a layer of complexity to the current investigation, though authorities have not explicitly linked his past behavior to the motive for the arson.
The Old Trails Fire began northwest of downtown Spokane on Saturday before jumping the Spokane River and tearing through residential areas. As of Tuesday morning, none of the three fires in the region had been contained. The blazes have burned approximately 16 square miles, destroying at least 700 buildings. The devastation has left many residents with little more than chimneys standing amidst blackened vehicles and melted debris. Some homeowners are questioning whether rebuilding is feasible given their age and the extent of the damage.
Evacuation orders have affected roughly 67,000 people. Initially, authorities received nearly 300 reports of missing persons, but most cases were resolved by Monday. Fourteen individuals remain unaccounted for, though officials believe these are likely people who have not made contact since evacuating rather than those in immediate danger. Residents who returned to assess the damage found their properties reduced to ruins, with some neighborhoods showing stark contrasts between burned lots and spared homes where residents continued to water lawns.
Firefighting conditions are expected to worsen as winds pick up and temperatures rise into the 90s. More than 1,000 firefighters, many from out of state, have been deployed to the scene, with numbers expected to double in the coming days. The fires are part of a broader crisis across the Western United States, where severe drought and low snowpack have strained federal, state, and local resources. At least 390 square miles of land have burned in Washington alone.
In response to the scale of the disaster, Washington’s congressional delegation requested an expedited emergency declaration from President Donald Trump, which was subsequently approved. This designation aims to provide additional resources to agencies struggling to manage multiple simultaneous incidents. Authorities have warned residents against flying drones near burned areas to avoid interfering with firefighting operations and aerial surveillance efforts.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- PBS NewsHour↗Man charged with setting largest Spokane wildfire went to prison for killing father
