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Old Trails Fire arson suspect accused of setting Washington blaze
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- A Washington grandfather, Paul Child, spotted a suspicious man near railroad tracks shortly before a devastating wildfire, later identifying the individual as a suspect in starting the fire.
- Authorities arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson for intentionally setting the Old Trails Fire, which destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate.
- Farinacci has a criminal history including a manslaughter conviction for fatally shooting his father, raising concerns for the family who witnessed his suspicious behavior.
- Fire investigators used witness accounts, physical evidence, and elimination of other causes to link Farinacci to the wildfire, noting the difficulty of arson investigations due to fire damage to evidence.
- The family’s quick action in reporting the suspicious man and warning neighbors helped alert authorities and potentially mitigated further damage during the wildfire emergency.
