Arson Charge in Washington Fire Linked to Past Manslaughter Case

Aaron F. Farinacci, aged 37, faces charges of first-degree arson for his suspected involvement in the Old Trails Fire, one of the biggest wildfires in eastern Washington. Court records reveal that Farinacci previously faced a first-degree murder charge before pleading guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and released in 2020.

The Old Trails Fire, which began near Spokane, has destroyed over 700 buildings and forced around 67,000 residents to flee. Authorities have not linked Farinacci to two other fires in the area, which are still under investigation.

“Climate change isn’t some existential global thing. It’s our neighbors. It’s our friends,”

said former Washington Governor Jay Inslee as firefighters tackled the wildfires.

In 2010, when Farinacci was 21, he killed his father during a domestic dispute in Arizona, later injuring himself. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault charges and served time in prison. Released in December 2020, Farinacci found himself accused once more of a major crime in 2026.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State fire investigators identified Farinacci as the suspect after collecting evidence. They obtained arrest and search warrants, detaining him without incident at his Spokane home.

Witnesses observed a man resembling Farinacci behaving suspiciously at the fire’s origin. After noticing smoke, a witness alerted an Airway Heights police officer, providing a description of Farinacci and his attire.

Officials detained him initially but released him as they focused on evacuating residents. However, further investigation led to his arrest, supported by witness statements, body camera evidence, and fire investigators’ findings.

During initial contact, deputies found Farinacci carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter. Fire investigators concluded that the blaze matched the characteristics of dry grass igniting from a match or lighter.

Sheriff John Nowels mentioned that the first-degree arson charge could lead to additional charges as authorities evaluate the full impact of the fire. He praised vigilant residents for aiding in the swift identification of the suspect.

Farinacci was due to appear in court before Spokane County Criminal Court Commissioner Tony Hazel. Observant citizens played a crucial role in his rapid apprehension, according to Nowels.