Suspect Charged With 5 Arson Counts As Washington Wildfires Destroy 846 Structures

On August 7, 2026, law enforcement authorities in Spokane County, Washington, confirmed that 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci is now facing five counts of first-degree arson following the escalation of catastrophic wildfires that have damaged or destroyed at least 846 structures across the region. Farinacci, a convicted felon residing in Spokane, was initially arrested in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the most destructive of three major blazes that ignited in eastern Washington over the preceding days. Court documents filed in Spokane County Superior Court reveal that detectives uncovered evidence indicating Farinacci researched weather patterns to identify a day characterized by high temperatures, low humidity, and strong wind gusts to maximize the spread of the flames. Investigators also disclosed that Farinacci researched the methods of a notorious serial arsonist and constructed a time-delay ignition device using notebook paper, matches, a cigarette, and a rubber band. The Old Trails Fire began near Airway Heights and rapidly moved through Riverside State Park before advancing into residential neighborhoods in north Spokane. Fueled by extreme weather conditions and wind speeds reaching up to 40 miles per hour, the blaze jumped the Spokane River, prompting Washington Governor Bob Ferguson to declare a statewide emergency and describe the event as potentially the worst natural disaster in the history of Spokane. Together, the Old Trails Fire, the Autumn Lane Fire, and the Fairview Fire burned over 10,400 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 65,000 residents—representing over ten percent of Spokane County’s total population. Emergency evacuations disrupted local businesses, residential communities, and the regional Veterans Affairs hospital campus, with evacuees seeking shelter at the Spokane Convention Center and other designated facilities. Court records indicate that a local resident first alerted law enforcement after observing a bald male wearing a green shirt and backpack acting nervously near a treeline along local railroad tracks shortly before smoke emerged from the exact location. Responding sheriff's deputies initially detained Farinacci over a mile away from the ignition site, finding waterproof matches, a butane lighter, and cigarettes inside his fanny pack. Although Farinacci denied setting the fire, claiming he used the matches solely to light cigarettes, and was temporarily released while officers assisted with immediate neighborhood evacuations, major crimes detectives re-arrested him after wildland fire investigators systematically ruled out electrical power line failures, passing train sparks, and other environmental triggers. Following his arrest, a Spokane County Superior Court judge set bail for Farinacci at $1 million. Official court and criminal history records show Farinacci was previously convicted of manslaughter in Arizona in connection with the October 2010 shooting death of his father in Mesa, Arizona, after which he served prison time from 2012 to 2020. As of August 7, 2026, firefighting operations across Spokane County continue under active Red Flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service due to persistent heat and dry fuels. Emergency management teams, hazardous-material specialists assessing burned structures and ash pits, and wildland firefighters from more than 20 states and 100 separate jurisdictions are working around the clock to mop up smoldering hotspots, secure containment perimeters, and protect surrounding communities from further destruction.