A man in Washington state has been arrested in connection with the Old Trails Fire, which is one of several wildfires wreaking havoc in the Spokane area. Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, faces charges of first-degree arson following an investigation by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Authorities received crucial information from citizen tips and local law enforcement officers from Airway Heights and Spokane County. These reports helped investigators identify Farinacci as a suspect. He was described as a convicted felon from Arizona, although no prior fire-related crimes were documented in his history.
Currently, Farinacci has not been linked to two other significant fires in the region, known as the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels noted that while first-degree arson is the charge based on probable cause at this point, further evidence could modify the case. Investigators are also examining any other potential crimes Farinacci might have committed.
Detectives acted on an arrest warrant for Farinacci and searched his residence located on the 2800 block of West Elliott Drive. During the search, authorities found a butane lighter and waterproof matches. Farinacci was detained without incident and subsequently booked into the Spokane County Jail with a $1 million bond.
The Old Trails Fire erupted near North Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road, making it the largest of three major fires in the Spokane area. As of Monday, the fire remained uncontained and had resulted in the destruction of over 700 structures. Evacuation orders impacted around 67,000 residents.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson responded to the crisis by declaring a statewide wildfire emergency. This declaration comes amid severe drought conditions, extreme temperatures, and strong winds. It also implemented a ban on most outdoor and agricultural burning until the end of September.