On Monday, authorities in Washington state announced charges against a 37-year-old man, Aaron Farinacci, for allegedly igniting a wildfire that has ravaged nearly 4,000 acres and displaced thousands of residents from their homes.
Farinacci, a Spokane resident, faces a charge of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails fire, which is the largest of three significant wildfires currently affecting the area. He was apprehended with waterproof matches and a butane lighter in his possession, and witnesses reported seeing him kneeling in grass near the fire’s origin point over the weekend.
During a press conference on Monday evening, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels commended the swift response of the community, stating that vigilant citizens played a crucial role in Farinacci’s rapid capture. “As often happens in critical situations, it was the observant citizens who stepped up and reported their concerns that led to Mr. Farinacci being taken into custody quickly,” Nowels remarked. “This was an impressive and timely effort by all involved.”
Nowels further revealed that the suspect has a criminal history, including a previous manslaughter conviction in Arizona. According to reports from the Phoenix New Times, Farinacci’s father was fatally shot in 2010 during a domestic dispute. After the incident, Farinacci was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In 2012, at the age of 21, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault, with his defense attorney raising concerns about his mental health and prior psychiatric hospitalizations.
Beth Farinacci, Aaron’s stepmother, expressed her belief that the charge of second-degree murder would have been more fitting than manslaughter in her late husband’s case, emphasizing the intentional nature of the act. “Manslaughter applies to accidental killings, not to situations where someone deliberately shoots another person,” she stated in a letter to the judge.
Additionally, records indicate that Farinacci had prior encounters with law enforcement during fire investigations. On July 8, 2025, Spokane police responded to reports of multiple fires in proximity to his apartment, which required a significant emergency response. The following month, while police were investigating another wildfire in Riverside State Park, they encountered Farinacci resting on a park bench, appearing exhausted, and wearing the same green T-shirt he had on during the weekend’s incident.
Farinacci is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Tuesday, as firefighting teams continue their efforts to control the ongoing blazes that have spread throughout the county. The Old Trails fire ignited northwest of Spokane on Saturday and has since crossed the Spokane River, affecting local neighborhoods, although some residents were allowed to return home on Monday.
Miriam Sim, a 76-year-old resident, expressed despair as she and her husband assessed the destruction of their home, which they had occupied since 2005. Nearby, vehicles were charred, and a boat was deformed by the intense heat, while other homes remained untouched as residents watered their lawns to protect them from the flames.
Evacuation orders were issued for over 67,000 individuals due to the three fires—Old Trail, Autumn Lane, and Fairview—which had consumed approximately 16 square miles by early Tuesday. However, some evacuation orders were downgraded late Monday.
In other parts of the state, at least 15 additional wildfires were reported, fueled by extreme heat and ongoing drought conditions, covering an area of at least 390 square miles. Washington’s entire congressional delegation sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Monday, requesting an expedited emergency declaration. Governor Bob Ferguson stated he had also communicated with the White House regarding the emergency situation following his own declaration.
The letter from state officials highlighted the severe impact of the fires, with hundreds of individuals losing their homes and farms. It noted that many residents were still unable to return to their properties while crews continued their firefighting operations. While no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported, Spokane sheriff’s office spokesperson Cpl. Mark Gregory mentioned that 14 individuals remain unaccounted for, likely due to a lack of communication since their evacuation.
As of Monday, over 1,000 firefighters, including many from other states, were deployed to combat the wildfires, with expectations for that number to double in the following days. Firefighting efforts continued on both land and air, with Sheriff Nowels urging the public to refrain from using drones, which could interfere with aerial operations.
A bulletin from the National Weather Service’s Spokane office issued on Tuesday warned of ongoing challenging conditions, including unhealthy air quality due to smoke. The forecast also indicated that dry conditions and increased winds would heighten fire risks across parts of central Washington later in the week.
Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands, Dave Upthegrove, referred to this wildfire season as extraordinary, noting significant destruction to homes, businesses, and other properties.
This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.
