A 37-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday, accused of starting a destructive wildfire in eastern Washington. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported that Aaron F. Farinacci is suspected of arson related to the Old Trails Fire. He is being held on a $1 million bond. It remains unclear if he has legal representation.
The wildfire, which started on Saturday, is one of several currently affecting the area near Spokane, Washington’s second-largest city. Collectively, the fires have already destroyed over 700 structures and forced more than 60,000 residents to evacuate.
Who Is Aaron Farinacci?
Farinacci was arrested at around 5 p.m. local time on Monday and faces charges of first-degree arson, according to Sheriff John Nowels. The arrest followed a tip from a witness who saw a man near the origin of the Old Trails Fire shortly before it began around 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The witness reported seeing the man staring into the forest and later kneeling beside a road near a grassy area. Afterward, he appeared nervous and left the scene. Deputies apprehended Farinacci later that day about half a mile from where the fire was believed to have started. They initially questioned and released him.
Sheriff Nowels stated that Farinacci possessed waterproof matches and a butane lighter, either of which could have been used to start the fire. By Sunday, major crimes detectives linked Farinacci to the blaze. They confirmed that the fire’s origin matched the spot where Farinacci had been seen kneeling.
Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam noted that Farinacci has a criminal history, including a manslaughter conviction in Arizona.
This situation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as the story develops.
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