Convicted Felon Arrested for Allegedly Setting Spokane’s Largest Wildfire, Which Destroyed Hundreds of Homes
A 37-year-old Spokane, Washington resident with a prior manslaughter conviction has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest and most destructive of three wildfires that have torn through the Spokane area since last weekend, destroying more than 700 structures and displacing roughly 65,000 people.
The Arrest
Aaron F. Farinacci was taken into custody Monday evening, August 3, with the assistance of a SWAT team after a judge signed a warrant based on an allegation of first-degree arson, according to Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels, as reported by NBC News. Farinacci was held on $1 million bond and made his first court appearance via video link from jail on Tuesday, where an arraignment was scheduled for Thursday, according to CNN.
Fire investigators determined the Old Trails Fire was consistent with grass being deliberately ignited by a match or lighter, Nowels said. Court documents cited by NPR indicate that a witness reported seeing “a bald white male wearing a backpack and a green shirt” near a tree line in the area shortly before the fire began Saturday afternoon, describing the man as appearing “nervous.” When investigators later located and questioned Farinacci — found about a mile and a half from where the fire was burning — he was carrying a pack of cigarettes, a butane lighter, and a box of waterproof matches, according to court documents cited by NPR.
Farinacci denied starting the fire when initially questioned, telling officers he had used the matches to light a cigarette, according to the court documents. He was questioned and released the day the fire started, but was arrested again later as investigators gathered additional evidence, Nowels said at a Monday night news conference.
A History With Fire-Related Suspicion
This wasn’t the first time Farinacci had drawn law enforcement scrutiny over fire-related concerns. According to CNN, law enforcement had contacted Farinacci last summer regarding two other fires, including a “suspicious” blaze that started near his home — though he was not arrested in either case. Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam said Farinacci was known to walk in the area and had previously been questioned about “arson-related behavior,” though he had never been arrested or convicted for it before this case.
His Criminal Background
Court records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Farinacci was initially charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with a 2010 homicide in Arizona. According to CNN and the Associated Press, Farinacci fatally shot his father during an argument about washing dishes and also shot himself during the same incident. He ultimately pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and was released in December 2020.
Authorities have not alleged any connection between Farinacci and the other two fires burning in the area — the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires — both of which remain under separate investigation, according to Fox News.
The Scale of the Damage
The Old Trails Fire is the largest of three blazes that have devastated the Spokane area since the weekend. Together, the fires have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced approximately 67,000 people to evacuate, according to Fox News. As of Tuesday, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 14 people who had previously been unaccounted for had all been reached safely, and no deaths or injuries had been reported, according to NPR.
The fires forced evacuations of businesses, the region’s Veterans Affairs hospital campus, and other healthcare facilities, according to NPR. Washington National Guard Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh described sections of Spokane County as looking like “a war zone,” according to CNN, with aerial images showing entire residential blocks reduced to ash and surrounding vegetation charred.
Reaction From State Officials
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson addressed the arson allegation directly in comments to CNN, saying the news added to what he called the “absolute anguish” already felt by residents who had lost their homes. “It just takes a tragic situation and makes it more heartbreaking to think that much of this damage could have been caused by an individual doing this on purpose,” Ferguson said. “It adds to a really challenging situation.”
The arrest came just hours after former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, addressing the fires more broadly, pointed to climate change as a contributing factor to the region’s destructive fire conditions, telling reporters, “Climate change isn’t some existential global thing. It’s our neighbors. It’s our friends,” according to Fox News.
FAQ
Who has been charged in connection with the Spokane fires? Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, has been charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three fires burning in the Spokane area.
Is Farinacci accused of starting all three fires? No. Authorities have not alleged any connection between Farinacci and the other two fires, the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, both of which remain under separate investigation.
Does Farinacci have a prior criminal record? Yes. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012 in connection with a 2010 incident in Arizona in which he fatally shot his father. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and released in December 2020.
How much damage have the Spokane fires caused? The three fires have destroyed at least 700 structures and forced roughly 65,000 to 67,000 people to evacuate. No deaths or injuries have been reported.
Had Farinacci been under suspicion for fire-related behavior before? Yes. Law enforcement had contacted him about two other fires last summer, including one described as “suspicious” that started near his home, though he was not arrested in either case.
Conclusion
The arson arrest adds a deliberate, human element to what was already one of the most destructive wildfire events in recent Spokane-area history — a distinction officials say makes an already devastating situation harder for victims to process. With Farinacci’s arraignment scheduled for Thursday and investigations into the other two fires still ongoing, the case is likely to remain a focal point as the region continues assessing the full scope of the damage and works toward recovery.
Sources: ABC News, NPR, CNN, NBC News, Fox News, KHQ (reporting dated August 3-4, 2026).