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Investigators arrest 37-year-old man in connection to devastating Spokane County wildfire
The Spokesman-Review • • nation
Key Points:
- Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested near the ignition site of the Old Trails fire in northwest Spokane on suspicion of first-degree arson, following witness reports of suspicious behavior near where the fire began.
- The fire destroyed around 700 homes and was confirmed to be human-caused, with investigators finding evidence consistent with ignition by a match or lighter, and Farinacci was found in possession of waterproof matches and a butane lighter.
- Farinacci, a Spokane resident with a prior manslaughter conviction in Arizona, has no previous arson convictions but had been previously contacted for arson-related behavior.
- The Old Trails fire is one of three major fires in Spokane County currently under investigation, with the Washington Department of Natural Resources ruling out natural causes for the blaze.
- The arrest was credited to vigilant citizens who reported suspicious activity, and law enforcement continues a thorough and ongoing investigation into the fire’s cause.
