A wildfire that forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and became one of the most destructive fires in Spokane’s history has now led to a major criminal case.
Aaron F. Farinacci, a 37-year-old Spokane resident, was arrested on Monday, August 3, 2026, and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire. Authorities allege he intentionally ignited the blaze that tore across Spokane’s West Plains, though Farinacci has denied starting the fire, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The case has drawn national attention not only because of the scale of the wildfire but also due to Farinacci’s previous contacts with law enforcement involving fire-related incidents and his prior felony conviction from Arizona.
Read more: The Old Trails Fire investigation is one of several major criminal cases currently unfolding across the United States, with authorities continuing to gather evidence as court proceedings begin. If you’re following developing public safety investigations, our Seattle Center Armory shooting investigation article examines another active case where investigators are working to establish exactly what happened.
How the Old Trails Fire became one of Spokane’s worst wildfire disasters
The Old Trails Fire was first reported around midday on Saturday, August 1, 2026, near the intersection of North Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road, north of Airway Heights on Spokane’s West Plains.
Fueled by dry vegetation and strong winds, the fire rapidly expanded and became the largest of three major wildfires burning around Spokane, alongside the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires.
The destruction was enormous:
- At least 700 buildings were destroyed, with some reports describing roughly 700 homes or structures lost.
- Approximately 60,000 to 67,000 residents were forced to evacuate.
- Thousands of acres burned.
- No deaths have been reported in connection with the fire.
Officials have emphasized that the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires remain separate investigations, and no connection has been established between those incidents and the Old Trails Fire.
Continue reading: Wildfires and other large-scale emergencies can leave lasting impacts on entire communities, prompting extensive investigations alongside recovery efforts. Our Apalachee High School shooting guilty plea coverage explores another case where a devastating incident led to significant legal proceedings while communities continued to cope with its aftermath.
Timeline: How investigators built the case against Aaron Farinacci
| Date & Time | Official Event |
| August 1, around noon | A citizen driving on East Euclid Road noticed a man standing near the tree line. |
| About 10 minutes later | The witness saw the same man bending or kneeling toward the vegetation before later noticing smoke rising from that exact area and calling Airway Heights police. |
| August 1 | Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies located Aaron F. Farinacci roughly one to one-and-a-half miles from the reported ignition point. |
| August 2 | A Washington Department of Natural Resources investigator identified the precise origin of the fire and concluded it was caused by an open flame applied to vegetation, ruling out electrical infrastructure and passing trains. |
| August 3 | Detectives obtained arrest and search warrants. Farinacci was arrested around 5 p.m. without incident and booked into Spokane County Jail. |
| August 4 | Farinacci appeared by video in Spokane County Superior Court before Judge Tony Hazel, where his $1 million bond was maintained. |
Another tragic news: As investigators pieced together witness statements, forensic findings, and official records, the timeline became central to understanding how the case developed. Our Nolan Wells boat trip investigation article similarly follows how law enforcement reconstructed events while working to determine what occurred.
What investigators say happened before the fire started
According to court documents and law enforcement accounts, the investigation began after a citizen tip.
The witness first observed a man standing beside the road looking into nearby trees. Roughly 10 minutes later, the same witness drove past again and saw the man bending over or kneeling while facing the vegetation.
Soon afterward, smoke began rising from that location, prompting the witness to contact Airway Heights police.
Deputies later located Aaron F. Farinacci, who matched the witness description. He was wearing a distinctive green T-shirt reading “Who needs luck, I have charm.”
During a search, deputies found a fanny pack containing cigarettes, a butane lighter, and a box of heavy-duty waterproof (“rain-ready”/”wind-proof”) Gofire brand matches. The box originally contained 25 matches, but only 14 remained.
Farinacci told deputies he:
- Lived at apartments at 2816 West Elliott Drive.
- Frequently walked a loop in the area.
- Purchased the matches a few days earlier.
- Used them when his lighter failed while lighting cigarettes.
- Denied starting the fire or being in the exact location where it began.
Because investigators had not yet confirmed the fire’s cause and emergency crews were focused on evacuations and protecting homes, he was released that day.
Everything changed the following day.
A Washington Department of Natural Resources wildland fire investigator determined that the fire’s origin matched the location where witnesses had seen Farinacci kneeling. The investigator concluded the fire was consistent with an open flame applied directly to vegetation, ruling out other potential causes, including electrical infrastructure and passing trains.
Working alongside DNR investigators and the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Major Crimes detectives developed probable cause, secured warrants, and arrested Farinacci on Monday, August 3.
Read next: Court documents in this case outline the evidence investigators say led to the arrest, while the legal process will ultimately determine the outcome. A similar emphasis on investigative findings can be found in our Seattle Center Armory shooting investigation report, which examines how authorities have approached another ongoing criminal investigation.
Authorities call the alleged crime ‘unconscionable’
During Farinacci’s first court appearance on Tuesday, August 4, Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam argued that the defendant poses a danger to the community, leading the court to maintain his $1 million bond.
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels also addressed the investigation.
“Unconscionable.” — Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels, describing the alleged crime while noting that tens of thousands of lives had been impacted and changed forever.
Nowels also credited citizen tips and information gathered by responding officers for helping investigators identify and arrest the suspect relatively quickly.
Catch our coverage: As this case moves through the courts, prosecutors and investigators will continue presenting evidence through the judicial process. Our COVID fraud fugitive Elaine Angene Escoe captured article covers another recent case in which law enforcement actions marked an important milestone before further court proceedings.
Previous law enforcement contacts and criminal history emerge
Court documents state that Farinacci previously came into contact with Spokane police during fire and arson-related calls, although he was never arrested or charged in those earlier incidents.
Authorities cited:
- July 8, 2025: Contact during a fire/arson investigation involving several “bus-sized” fires near his apartment area by the Spokane River.
- August 11, 2025: Officers searching Riverside State Park for a possible suspect found him sitting on a park bench, “seemingly out of breath from possibly running.”
- In at least one earlier investigation, he was photographed wearing the same green “Who needs luck, I have charm” shirt later seen on August 1, 2026.
Officials say he has no prior arson convictions, though he had been contacted previously for “arson-related behavior.”
Separately, Farinacci has a prior felony conviction from Arizona.
In 2010, at age 21, he fatally shot his adoptive father during an argument over washing dishes in Mesa. Initially charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault, he later pleaded guilty in 2012 to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault. He served roughly a decade in prison, was released around 2020, and completed probation in Washington in 2024.
Continue reading: Background information often becomes part of public court records during high-profile criminal cases, but it does not determine the outcome of pending charges. Our Joanna Ruth Shields Big Sur cause of death coverage highlights another investigation where authorities carefully examined available evidence before providing answers to the public.
What’s next in the Spokane Old Trails Fire investigation?
The investigation remains active.
Authorities have indicated that additional charges remain possible as Major Crimes detectives from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office continue working alongside investigators from the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Meanwhile, Aaron F. Farinacci continues to deny starting the Old Trails Fire, and the criminal case will proceed through Spokane County Superior Court.
Continue following the case: The investigation remains active, and additional evidence or court filings could further shape the proceedings in the weeks ahead. As authorities continue providing updates on major criminal investigations, our John Savident’s real-life stabbing before Coronation Street fame feature offers insight into another case that drew significant public attention, although under very different circumstances.
Disclaimer
This article is based on thorough research and verified reporting available at the time of publication. Information has been compiled from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office official announcement, court affidavits and probable cause documents, and reporting by The Spokesman-Review, KHQ, KXLY, KREM, KOMO, the Associated Press, Fox News, and other local and national news outlets covering the August 2026 events. As the investigation is ongoing, additional evidence, charges, or official updates may emerge through court proceedings or law enforcement announcements.
Here are the primary source links used for the information:
- Spokane County Sheriff’s Office official announcement
- The Spokesman-Review – Suspected Old Trails arsonist Aaron Farinacci coverage
- KHQ – Court documents on the Old Trails Fire arson suspect
- KXLY – Reporting on the Old Trails Fire investigation and suspect
- Fox News – Aaron Farinacci’s prior criminal history report
- KREM – Court documents detailing the suspect’s Arizona conviction
- KOMO News – Background on the suspect’s criminal history
- Associated Press / Yahoo News – Western wildfires coverage
Image Credit: Arizona State Prison
Leave a Reply