A man arrested on suspicion of setting the Old Trails Fire, the largest of several blazes that have destroyed hundreds of structures and prompted mass evacuations in eastern Washington, was previously convicted of manslaughter in a 2010 homicide case. Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody Monday.
The fires in and around Spokane have resulted in the destruction of at least 700 buildings and forced approximately 67,000 residents to evacuate. Authorities have not yet established any link between Farinacci and the two other fires currently under investigation.
Farinacci's arrest came hours after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, cited climate change as firefighters battled the destructive wildfires.
Court records indicate Farinacci was initially charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in connection with a 2010 homicide in Arizona. He subsequently pleaded guilty in 2012 to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault. According to reports, Farinacci, then 21, fatally shot his father during an argument and also shot himself, but survived.
A Maricopa County judge sentenced Farinacci to 12 years in prison for the manslaughter and aggravated assault convictions. He was released from prison on Dec. 23, 2020.
Detectives from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and fire investigators from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources identified Farinacci as a suspect in the Old Trails Fire investigation. Arrest and search warrants were obtained before Farinacci was taken into custody without incident at his Spokane residence and booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson.
Sheriff John Nowels stated that witnesses reported seeing a man, later identified as Farinacci, acting suspiciously in the vicinity where the fire originated. After returning to their homes and observing smoke rising from the same area, witnesses alerted an Airway Heights police officer and provided investigators with a description of the man and his clothing. Deputies initially detained and questioned Farinacci before releasing him to allow first responders to focus on evacuations.
As detectives reviewed witness statements, body camera footage, and evidence collected with fire investigators, probable cause was established to arrest Farinacci. When deputies first contacted him, he was reportedly carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter. Fire investigators later determined the fire's origin was consistent with dry grass being ignited by a match or lighter.
Nowels noted that the first-degree arson charge reflects the current evidence, but cautioned that additional charges could be considered as the investigation progresses and the full extent of the fire's damage is assessed. The sheriff attributed the suspect's quick apprehension to observant residents who reported suspicious activity. The Associated Press contributed to this report.