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Spokane arson suspect had planned devastating wildfire for weeks, police say
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Aaron Farinacci confessed to starting the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington, admitting he planned the wildfire for weeks and created a time-delay device to ignite it.
- Farinacci chose August 1 for the fire due to predicted high winds, low humidity, and heat, aiming to start a large blaze but not expecting it to grow as extensive as it did.
- The Old Trails Fire, one of three fires in the Spokane area on August 1, has damaged or destroyed at least 694 structures, contributing to over 900 total damaged or destroyed buildings across the fires.
- Farinacci appeared in court on multiple arson charges, with bail set at $2 million; he has a prior manslaughter conviction.
- Paul Child helped police identify Farinacci after observing suspicious behavior near the fire's origin, which ignited amid extreme drought and dangerous weather conditions described by Washington's governor as possibly the worst natural disaster in Spokane history.
