Who is Aaron Farinacci, Old Trails Fire arson suspect?
Aaron F. Farinacci is a 37-year-old Spokane man arrested and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire, the biggest of three recent Spokane Stevens counties wildfires that destroyed at least 700 buildings. He denies setting the fire. His bond was set at $1 million.
Key Takeaways
- Farinacci faces first-degree arson charges tied to the Old Trails Fire after a Saturday witness tip northwest of Spokane.
- Investigators say he had cigarettes, waterproof matches and a butane lighter when detained near the blaze.
- Court records show he was questioned in two Spokane-area fire probes in 2025 but was not charged in either case.
- He previously served about a decade in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in his father's 2010 killing in Arizona.
- The Old Trails Fire is the largest of three human-caused blazes that forced tens of thousands from their homes; no deaths have been reported.
Who is Aaron Farinacci and what is he charged with?
According to Associated Press reporting on court documents, Aaron F. Farinacci of Spokane was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire.
That blaze is the biggest of three fires around Spokane that have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. Farinacci denied setting the fire. A judge set bond at $1 million.
He appeared in court Tuesday via video from jail, represented by Spokane County public defender Colin Charbonneau. Arraignment was set for Thursday. For more celebrity breaking news coverage, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
How was the Old Trails Fire suspect identified?
Paul Child, 64, told the AP he saw a bald white man in a green shirt with a backpack bent over in brush near railroad tracks in his rural neighborhood northwest of Spokane on Saturday. About 10 minutes after returning home, his daughter reported a fire at that exact spot.
Child's daughter called 911. A deputy detained a man matching the description more than a mile away, and Child identified him as Farinacci. Deputies found a pack of cigarettes, waterproof matches and a butane lighter in his packs. Farinacci denied starting the fire and denied being in the ignition area. He was initially released as evacuations continued.
The next day, a wildland fire investigator ruled out other causes, including sparks from electric wires or passing trains, and police arrested Farinacci on Monday. Sheriff John Nowels credited alert citizens with the relatively quick apprehension.
What else do court records say about Farinacci?
Farinacci, 37, served about a decade in prison after killing his father in Mesa, Arizona, in 2010 during an argument about washing dishes. He was charged with murder but pleaded guilty in 2012 to manslaughter and aggravated assault. He was released from probation in Arizona in early 2024.
Last year, authorities questioned him in two Spokane fire-related cases without charging him. One involved several "bus-sized" fires near his apartment by the Spokane River in July 2025. The other involved a Riverside State Park wildfire in August 2025.
The human toll remains severe for residents. Single mother Sarah Burgi lost her Prosperity Lane home in the Old Trails Fire and said community support has helped her family begin recovery. Investigators said the other two Spokane-area fires were also human-caused, though not necessarily intentional, with exact causes still under review.