A man accused of intentionally starting one of the wildfires in Spokane, Washington, meticulously planned the crime over several weeks and conducted research to determine the optimal weather conditions for setting the blaze, according to law enforcement officials.
Aaron Farinacci, aged 37, stands charged with initiating the Old Trails fire, a destructive blaze that has ravaged over 850 structures in the Spokane vicinity, leading to the obliteration of entire neighborhoods and streets and the evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals. Additionally, he faces allegations in connection with four smaller fires ignited in the summer of 2025 and last month.
Initially scheduled for arraignment on five first-degree arson charges, Farinacci’s legal counsel requested a competency evaluation before entering a plea. Spokane Superior Court Judge Jeremy Schmidt granted the request and set a bond at $2 million US, citing concerns about Farinacci’s potential threat to public safety, flight risk, and propensity for violent behavior.
Despite initially denying involvement in starting the Old Trails fire when first approached by authorities, Farinacci later admitted to igniting that fire and others during an interview with Detective Michael Drapeau. This confession led to the addition of four more arson charges against him.
During the interview, Farinacci disclosed that he habitually carried marijuana or cigarettes to justify carrying a lighter and matches. Detective Drapeau revealed that Farinacci meticulously researched weather conditions to select a day with hot, windy, and low humidity conditions for igniting the Old Trails fire. He also studied the methods of a notorious serial arsonist and acquired materials to create a time-delay ignition device using common items such as notebook paper, matches, a cigarette, and a rubber band.
On August 1, Farinacci deliberately chose to start the fire due to the forecasted high winds reaching 80 km/h. While acknowledging the severity of the fire’s spread, he claimed he did not intend for it to escalate to the extent that it did.
The arrest of Farinacci was facilitated by Paul Child, 64, who noticed suspicious behavior near some railroad tracks and alerted authorities. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels stated in a news conference that it will be several weeks before displaced residents can safely return to their homes in the fire-affected regions. Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities or significant injuries related to the Spokane fires.
In a troubling revelation, Detective Drapeau disclosed that Farinacci also confessed to being responsible for setting 25 fires near his apartment building in the summer of 2025. Farinacci previously served approximately ten years in prison following the killing of his father in Mesa, Arizona, in 2010. Initially charged with murder, he ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012, with his legal representation consistently raising concerns about his mental well-being during the legal proceedings.