Man Charged with Arson in Spokane Wildfires
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Man Charged with Arson in Spokane Wildfires
- A 37-year-old man, Aaron F. Farinacci, was arrested on Monday, August 3, 2026, and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of three major wildfires impacting Spokane, Washington.
- The fires, collectively known as the Spokane Complex Fire, began on Saturday, August 1, 2026, and have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced the evacuation of approximately 67,000 people.
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SPOKANE, Washington – Authorities have arrested a man suspected of setting the Old Trails Fire, one of three significant wildfires that have devastated parts of Spokane County. Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody on Monday, August 3, 2026, and faces a charge of first-degree arson. His bond has been set at $1 million.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported that a witness initially saw Farinacci acting suspiciously near the origin point of the Old Trails Fire on Saturday, August 1, 2026. Although he was questioned and released that day, detectives later linked him to the blaze. When he was subsequently detained, Farinacci was found to be in possession of waterproof matches and a butane lighter.
The Old Trails Fire is part of a larger event, dubbed the Spokane Complex Fire, which also includes the Fairview and Autumn Lane fires. These fires ignited on the afternoon of August 1, 2026, under conditions of drought, high temperatures, and strong winds, leading to rapid spread. The U.S. National Weather Service had issued a rare “Particularly Dangerous Situation” Red Flag Warning for Eastern Washington, the first of its kind for the region, prior to the fires.
As of Monday, August 3, 2026, the fires have collectively burned over 8,000 acres and destroyed at least 700 structures. Approximately 67,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes in what officials are calling potentially the worst natural disaster in Spokane’s history. Farinacci has a prior felony manslaughter conviction in Arizona from 2012. His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026.