Convicted Killer Charged With Starting Spokane Wildfire

A 37-year-old Spokane man has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three wildfires that tore through Spokane County and forced roughly 60,000 people to evacuate.

Suspect Charged With Starting the Largest of Three Spokane-Area Fires

Spokane County sheriff's detectives and Washington Department of Natural Resources fire investigators arrested Aaron F. Farinacci around 5 p.m. Monday in connection with the Old Trails Fire, which was first reported near Old Trails and Euclid roads north of Airway Heights on Aug. 1.

Officials said witnesses saw Farinacci kneeling near grass and acting nervously around the time the fire started, with smoke appearing shortly afterward in the same area. Investigators developed probable cause to arrest him after working with the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Authorities served arrest and search warrants at his residence on West Elliott Drive, and he was booked into the Spokane County Jail on $1 million bail.

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said Farinacci is a convicted felon with a manslaughter conviction in Nevada and a premeditated murder conviction in Arizona.