Suspected arson arrest follows Spokane wildfire that razed homes and scorched thousands of acres
A 37-year-old Spokane-area man has been arrested on suspicion of starting the Old Trails Fire, the blaze that tore through north Spokane County over the
A 37-year-old Spokane-area man has been arrested on suspicion of starting the Old Trails Fire, the blaze that tore through north Spokane County over the weekend and left hundreds of homes destroyed. The arrest came Monday, as firefighters were still battling flames that have burned more than 3,600 acres and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said the suspect, identified as Aaron F. Farinacci, was taken into custody around 5 p.m. on suspicion of first-degree arson. He had earlier been released so first responders could focus on the fast-moving fire, Nowels said at a Monday night news conference.
Witness reports and field evidence
Investigators said witnesses saw a man behaving suspiciously and kneeling in the grass near the spot where the fire started on Saturday. Law enforcement later contacted Farinacci more than a mile from the ignition point, Nowels said.
When investigators examined the scene, they found evidence consistent with a fire started by a match or lighter, according to the sheriff. Farinacci was later found to be carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter, Nowels said. The sheriff called it “a continuing and ongoing investigation.”
Fire still burning, motive unclear
Authorities have not said why the fire may have been set. Farinacci is not believed to be linked to two other major fires in Spokane County, even as all three remained 0% contained, according to local reports.
The Old Trails Fire has burned 3,621 acres and destroyed hundreds of structures, including homes across northwest Spokane, where residents fled in large numbers as smoke and flames spread through dry terrain. The suspect is being held in Spokane County Jail on $1 million bond.
Nowels said Farinacci lives in the Spokane area and described him as a Spokane resident, though he also noted a prior manslaughter conviction in Mesa, Arizona. Investigators are still working the case. “It is a continuing and ongoing investigation,” the sheriff said.
