Aaron Farinacci: What we know about the Spokane Old Trails Fire suspect

Key Points:

• Paul Child and his grandson spotted a man acting nervously near bushes in a rural area outside Spokane, Washington, shortly before a wildfire started in the same location, which later grew to engulf over 10,000 acres and destroy hundreds of homes.
• Law enforcement identified and arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci, a Spokane resident with a violent criminal history, charging him with first-degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire using a match or lighter.
• Farinacci was previously questioned about two other fires last summer but was not charged; he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012 related to the fatal shooting of his father and was released from prison in December 2020.
• Fire investigators used witness descriptions, body camera footage, and a search warrant of Farinacci’s residence to build their case, with his bond set at $1 million and an arraignment scheduled.
• Washington Governor Bob Ferguson expressed heartbreak over the intentional nature of the fire, emphasizing the added devastation caused by deliberate arson amid ongoing firefighting efforts.