Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old convicted felon, was arrested on Monday and held on a $2m bond after investigators determined he waited for a dry, windy day to intentionally ignite the Old Trails Fire, the most destructive blaze among three burning in and around Spokane, Washington.
The wildfires tearing through the outskirts of Washington state’s second-largest city have displaced 65,000 people, destroying some 700 buildings and burning through 10,000 acres of land. While calmer winds and lower temperatures arrived to aid firefighting efforts, officials warn that a new heat wave is forecast to arrive midweek, leaving the massive blazes uncontained.
Arrest Details and Premeditation Findings
The breakthrough in the arson investigation came from a citizen tip, according to Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels. A witness reported seeing a bald white male wearing a green shirt and a backpack near a tree line in Spokane on Saturday afternoon looking nervous, right as the wildfire began. Authorities initially questioned and released the suspect, Aaron Farinacci, before major crimes detectives took him into custody on Monday as evidence mounted.
According to court documents released by investigators, Farinacci admitted in a police interview that he had planned the Old Trails Fire two weeks in advance. The affidavit states that he researched his weather app to predict a day that would have ‘high winds, low humidity, sort of high heat.’
Detectives also believe the suspect researched a well-known arsonist to construct a time-delay device. When arrested, investigators found a pack of cigarettes, a butane lighter, and a used box of rain-ready, heavy-duty waterproof matches inside his fanny pack.
Investigators stated that Farinacci has been struggling since the birth of his son in May 2025 and developed a fascination with fires and arsonists. Court documents allege he claimed responsibility for setting 25 other fires in the area between July and August 2025. The affidavit notes that he feels that fire is powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth.
Court records reviewed by reporters also reveal that Farinacci pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge approximately 14 years ago in Arizona after shooting his father following a heated argument at age 21.
During his second court appearance on Thursday, a county judge raised Farinacci’s bond to $2m. He did not enter a plea, and the court ordered a mental competency evaluation.
Evacuations, Shelter Operations, and Community Impact
The fires prompted massive emergency responses across eastern Washington.
Displaced residents sought refuge at the Spokane Convention Center, which was converted into a Red Cross shelter. Charlie Patrick, a 54-year-old disabled resident who evacuated on Saturday, described fleeing her apartment with nothing.
“I hope it is still there,” she said, choking back tears. “I have a lot of memories and pictures and stuff of my family I can’t get back.”
Charlie Patrick
Other vulnerable residents were moved in coordinated efforts by local transit agencies. Donna Deeble, a 92-year-old evacuated from an assisted living facility by the Spokane Transit Authority, noted that transit buses picked up residents while families continuously arrived to retrieve elderly relatives.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the 14 people who were previously unaccounted for have been reached, without any confirmed deaths or injuries.
The Search for Closure Among the Ruins
For homeowners returning to inspect charred foundations and twisted metal, the confirmation that the disaster was allegedly man-made has brought complicated emotional reactions. Some residents told the outlet reporting from the ground that the arrest offered a measure of closure, sparing them from wondering if the destruction stemmed from a natural ignition or a freak accident.
I hope that if it’s proven that he did do this, I hope the punishment will fit the crime,
said Matt Kincanon, who lost his home in the Old Trails Fire. Because what he allegedly did turned over the lives of so many people.
Other survivors focused entirely on psychological recovery and personal resilience. Some told the BBC they do not have the emotional energy to be angry at the suspect, and are more focused on healing from their own psychological trauma.
