A 37-year-old Spokane man has been arrested on suspicion of starting one of three major wildfires that devastated parts of Spokane County, Washington, over the weekend, destroying hundreds of structures and prompting widespread evacuations.
Aaron F. Farinacci was taken into custody Monday afternoon, August 3, 2026, and booked into Spokane County Jail on a charge of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire. His bond was set at $1 million. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels announced the arrest at a news conference that evening. Farinacci was arrested without incident at a residence in the 2800 block of West Elliott Drive with assistance from a warrant service group that included SWAT team members. A search warrant was also served at the location.
The Old Trails Fire, the largest of the three blazes, was first reported around noon on Saturday, August 1, near the intersection of North Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road, north of Airway Heights. A witness reported seeing a man acting suspiciously and kneeling or bending down near grass in the trees in the area. Shortly afterward, the witness observed smoke rising from that location and contacted authorities.
Law enforcement made contact with Farinacci more than a mile from the ignition point that day. He was detained, questioned and released so first responders could prioritize the rapidly spreading fire. Investigators later determined the fire’s origin matched the spot where the witness saw him. Evidence at the scene was consistent with ignition by a match or lighter. When contacted earlier, Farinacci had waterproof matches and a butane lighter in his possession.
Farinacci has a prior felony conviction for manslaughter in Arizona. Public records and reports indicate he pleaded guilty in 2012 in connection with a 2010 incident involving his father. Sheriff’s officials stated he has no prior arson convictions but had previous contacts with law enforcement regarding arson-related behavior. No motive has been publicly identified, and authorities have not linked him to the other two fires in the area, the Autumn Lane Fire and the Fairview Fire. The investigation remains ongoing.
Together, the three fires have burned roughly 16 square miles (more than 10,000 acres in some estimates), with the Old Trails Fire accounting for approximately 3,600 acres. They destroyed an estimated 700 structures, primarily homes, and led to evacuation orders affecting about 60,000 to 67,000 people around Spokane, the state’s second-largest city. High winds of 35-45 mph drove the rapid spread; the Old Trails Fire jumped the Spokane River and moved through Riverside State Park into residential neighborhoods. All three fires remained 0% contained in early reports.
No deaths or major injuries have been reported. Nearly 300 missing-person reports were initially received; by Monday all but 14 had been cleared, with authorities indicating those likely involved people out of contact after evacuating rather than individuals in immediate danger. More than 1,000 firefighters were on scene by Monday, with additional resources expected. Residents returning to affected areas found neighborhoods reduced to ash, chimneys and charred debris in some cases, while nearby properties remained intact.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources, working with Spokane County investigators, has ruled out natural causes for the Old Trails Fire and continues its deliberative probe. The other two fires’ origins remain under investigation.
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