Man Charged with Arson in Spokane, Washington, Told Police He Planned Wildfire for Weeks
Investigators say eyewitness reports and physical evidence linked Aaron Farinacci to the blaze that damaged at least 700 structures, officials said.
- On Monday, Aug. 3, law enforcement arrested Aaron Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of first-degree arson for allegedly igniting the Old Trails Fire, which has burned more than 15 square miles in the Spokane area since Saturday, Aug. 1.
- Farinacci confessed to detectives he spent two weeks planning the fire, selecting a day with high winds reaching 50 mph and using a "time delay device" made from matches, cigarettes and a rubber band.
- Prosecutors allege Farinacci sparked 25 fires near the Spokane River, with detectives corroborating four, while combined Spokane-area wildfires have damaged or destroyed nearly 850 structures.
- A judge set bail at $1 million, and Farinacci is scheduled for arraignment at 3 p.m. Thursday in Spokane County Superior Court as prosecutors assess additional charges.
- Court records reveal Farinacci served 12 years for a 2010 manslaughter conviction in Arizona, while Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said there is "not a high likelihood" anyone has been killed in the current fires.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Spokane arson suspect faces new charges for fires dating back to 2025
Aaron Farinacci, who is accused of starting a massive fire in Spokane, displacing more than 65,000 people, is expected to face four additional counts of arson, county sheriff John Nowells told NBC News on Thursday.
Winnipeg Free Press
Man charged with arson in Spokane, Washington, told police he planned wildfire for weeks
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A Spokane County detective who interviewed the man accused of starting one of the city’s wildfires said the man confessed, described his planning process and explained how he created a device to ignite the blaze.
Officers from the Ajdovščina Police Station have successfully completed the investigation of four fires in the natural environment that broke out in the second half of July 2026 in the area of the Planina settlement in the municipality of Ajdovščina. Through extensive information gathering, visits to the fire sites and other investigative activities, they tracked down and identified the suspect who started the fires. Criminal charges will be fil…
Detectives say Spokane fire suspect confessed to planning 'powerful, beautiful' blaze weeks in advance
The man accused of starting Spokane's devastating Old Trails fire confessed to detectives he planned the blaze two weeks in advance, according to court records.
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