Spokane County officials arrested 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci on Monday, August 3, 2026, on suspicion of first-degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire. The blaze, which began Saturday near Airway Heights, destroyed hundreds of structures and forced as many as 65,000 people to evacuate across the region.
The arrest followed a multi-day investigation by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Farinacci was taken into custody around 5 p.m. Monday and is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
The Timeline of the Old Trails Ignition
The fire was reported around noon Saturday near West Euclid Road and North Old Trails Road. According to investigators, the case began at approximately 10 a.m. that day when a witness reported seeing a man bending down along the roadside. The witness later observed the same man looking into trees and appearing nervous
, only to see smoke rising from that exact location ten minutes later.
An Airway Heights police officer located and questioned a man matching the description about 1.5 miles from the ignition site. At the time, the officer collected contact information and released him because several key details were not yet known. However, the suspect was in possession of waterproof matches and a butane lighter during that initial encounter.
The speed of the fire’s spread was catastrophic. By 12:37 p.m. Saturday, the blaze was estimated at 200 acres; by 12:45 p.m., it had jumped Old Trails Road. Residents in the Indian Bluff area were seen packing cars and pets by 12:55 p.m., and those homes were burned to the ground by Monday morning.
Aaron Farinacci’s Criminal History
Sheriff John Nowels revealed that Farinacci is a convicted felon with a previous manslaughter conviction from Arizona. While he has no prior arson convictions, Nowels noted that Farinacci had been contacted previously for arson-related behavior
.
Details regarding the Arizona case emerged from the Phoenix News Times, which reported that the victim was Farinacci’s father. The report stated that Farinacci killed his father after being asked to wash the dishes.
Scale of Destruction and Regional Impact
The Old Trails Fire was one of three major blazes in Spokane County. While the causes of the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires remain under investigation, the DNR has ruled out natural causes for the Old Trails fire, confirming it was human-caused.
| Metric | Reported Impact |
|---|---|
| Structures Destroyed | Approximately 700 (with preliminary estimates suggesting up to 1,100) |
| Total Area Burned | Between 8,000 and 10,000+ acres (across three fires) |
| Evacuations | Up to 65,000 people |
| Firefighting Force | ~900 crews and Washington National Guard members |
The human toll is reflected in the testimony of those who fled the flames.
“There’s a moment of fear that I think I’ve never felt before in my life, where the cloud of smoke comes and blocks the sun, and you can hear things exploding, catching fire, there’s nowhere to go.”
Katie Sullivan, evacuee
For some, the loss is permanent. Aric Frank, who lost his home, told reporters, I don’t think I’m going to rebuild here,
adding that in his 64 years in Spokane, he never wants to relive a fire coming up that hill again.
Active Containment and State Emergency
Despite the arrest, the danger has not fully subsided. Spokane Fire Chief Tom Williams warned that the fire remains active and crews must visit every affected area before the situation is fully resolved.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The legal process for Farinacci is moving quickly. After detectives reviewed body-camera footage and collaborated with the DNR to pinpoint the fire’s origin, a judge approved both arrest and search warrants at 3 p.m. Monday. Farinacci’s first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday, August 4.
Investigators are not finished with their inquiry. According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, they are still attempting to locate 14 people who requested assistance during the fires and are examining whether Farinacci is connected to other crimes that could lead to additional charges.
