A man charged in connection with one of the Spokane, Washington, wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of buildings told police he planned the ignition for weeks and researched optimal weather conditions, according to a detective's court filing.
Aaron Farinacci, 37, faces three first-degree arson charges related to the Old Trails Fire, which is among three blazes that have consumed over 850 homes and led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. He is also linked to two smaller fires that occurred in the summer of 2025.
Farinacci expressed that “fire is powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth,” Spokane County Detective Michael Drapeau stated in the court filing. Farinacci researched weather patterns, looking for a day with “high winds, low humidity, sort of high heat” to start the fire, Drapeau said. He specifically targeted Saturday, Aug. 1, anticipating winds up to 50 mph (80 kph).
During his interview with police, Farinacci admitted he knew "it 'was gonna get bad'" but claimed he did not intend for the fire to grow as extensively as it did. He also reportedly researched the work of a well-known serial arsonist and fashioned a "time delay device" using notebook paper, matches, a cigarette, and a rubber band to ignite the wildfire.
Paul Child, 64, is credited with leading authorities to Farinacci. Child reported seeing a man acting nervously near railroad tracks and nearby trees, which prompted him to alert the police.
Farinacci also confessed to starting 25 fires near his apartment building in the summer of 2025, many of which were located near the Spokane River or the Centennial Trail. The Aubrey White Fire in July 2025, which damaged one house, was also added to his charges, as was the Meenach Fire.
Farinacci has a prior criminal history. He served approximately a decade in prison after killing his father in Mesa, Arizona, in 2010, an incident where he also shot himself. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to manslaughter and aggravated assault, with his defense attorneys repeatedly raising concerns about his mental health during that case. He reportedly moved to Spokane in October 2022 and began experiencing difficulties with life issues after the birth of a son in 2025, at which time he also began smoking marijuana.
Farinacci was scheduled for arraignment on Thursday, but his lawyer requested a competency evaluation before he enters a plea. Spokane Superior Court Judge Jeremy Schmidt set bond at $2 million, citing Farinacci as a risk to community safety, a flight risk, and a potential for violent offenses. His defense attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.