Washington man arrested on arson charge tied to devastating Spokane wildfire

A Washington authorities antheral was arrested Monday connected a first-degree arson complaint successful transportation with the Old Trails Fire, 1 of respective wildfires that person destroyed hundreds of structures and forced tens of thousands of radical to evacuate the Spokane area, authorities said.

Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody aft Spokane County Sheriff’s Office detectives and Washington Department of Natural Resources investigators developed probable origin to apprehension him, according to the sheriff’s office.

Citizen tips and accusation from Airway Heights constabulary officers and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies who responded to the archetypal telephone and conducted evacuations helped pb investigators to Farinacci, the sheriff’s bureau said.

Authorities described Farinacci arsenic a convicted felon from Arizona but said they had recovered nary documented transgression past involving fires.

Investigators person not connected Farinacci to the 2 different large blazes burning successful the area, the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, officials said.

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Aaron Farinacci, 37, was charged with first-degree arson. (Spokane County Sheriff’s Office)

"We volition beryllium looking into immoderate different crimes Mr. Farinacci whitethorn person committed successful the past," Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said during a quality briefing.

Nowels said first-degree arson was the complaint supported by probable origin astatine that signifier of the probe and cautioned that the lawsuit could alteration arsenic authorities gathered further evidence.

Detectives obtained an apprehension warrant for Farinacci and a hunt warrant for his residence successful the 2800 artifact of West Elliott Drive, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies served the warrant Monday and arrested Farinacci without incident. Authorities said detectives recovered a butane lighter and waterproof matches portion detaining and searching him.

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Firefighters respond to wildfires adjacent Spokane, Washington, connected Aug. 2, 2026. (South Pend Oreille Fire Rescue / FOX Weather)

Farinacci was booked into the Spokane County Jail and was being held connected $1 cardinal bond.

The Old Trails Fire was archetypal reported Saturday adjacent North Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road. It became the largest of 3 destructive fires burning astir Spokane and remained uncontained Monday, according to authorities and ligament reports.

Wildfires rage successful Spokane, Washington, connected Aug. 2, 2026. (South Pend Oreille Fire Rescue)

The 3 fires had collectively destroyed astatine slightest 700 structures and prompted evacuation orders affecting astir 67,000 radical arsenic of Monday, according to The Associated Press. More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the blazes.

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Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire exigency Saturday amid drought, unusually precocious temperatures and beardown winds. The declaration besides imposed a statewide prohibition connected astir outdoor and cultivation burning done Sept. 30.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.