A 37-year-old convicted felon faces first-degree arson charges after authorities connected him to wildfires that destroyed 700 buildings and displaced 65,000 residents in Spokane, Washington, with investigators finding matches and a lighter on him during his arrest.
Citizen Tip Leads to Arrest
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels announced the arrest of Aaron Farinacci following a citizen report of a man bending down near grass where the Old Trails fire originated. Detectives initially questioned and released Farinacci before rearresting him as the investigation progressed. Authorities believe he used matches or a lighter to ignite the blaze, and both items were found in his possession when officers took him into custody at his residence without incident.
Farinacci will make his first court appearance Tuesday, according to County Prosecutor Preston McCollam. The suspect’s home was searched following the arrest. It remained unclear whether Farinacci had secured legal representation at the time of the announcement. Sheriff Nowels credited quick action by investigators and community vigilance for the breakthrough in the case.
Devastation Across Eastern Washington
The Old Trails fire stands as the most destructive of three wildfires currently burning in and around Spokane. High winds, elevated temperatures, and bone-dry conditions have fueled the blazes since last weekend, scorching 7,000 acres of land. The fires forced evacuations of businesses, the regional Veterans Affairs hospital campus, and multiple healthcare facilities. No deaths or injuries have been reported, but entire neighborhoods have been wiped out according to local officials.
Charlie Patrick, a 54-year-old disabled resident, evacuated Saturday with nothing but the clothes on her back. Now sheltering with her son at the Red Cross facility in the Spokane Convention Center, Patrick expressed hope her apartment survived. She worries about losing irreplaceable family photographs and personal memories. Hundreds of evacuees, including many elderly residents, are receiving assistance at the downtown shelter where nursing staff help people with basic needs behind makeshift privacy barriers.
Emergency Response and Federal Assistance
Mayor Lisa Brown described the situation facing the city of 230,000 as unprecedented. Firefighters worked Monday and Tuesday to exploit a brief break in high winds before another heat wave arrives midweek. Governor Ferguson confirmed he spoke with President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Sunday, requesting an emergency declaration for immediate federal relief. The request includes assistance for housing, food distribution, and search and rescue operations. Ferguson described the destruction as devastating, with entire residential areas completely destroyed by the advancing flames.