A Spokane man has been arrested and charged with setting the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three devastating wildfires burning through the region. Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson, with his bond set at $1 million.
The three fires have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced approximately 67,000 people to evacuate around Spokane, Washington's second-largest city. Authorities have not identified a cause for the other two fires, which remain completely uncontained.
According to Sheriff John Nowels, a community member reported seeing a nervous-looking man bent by the side of the road near grass where the fire started. After initial questioning, Farinacci was released, but major crimes detectives later re-identified him using body camera footage and reports, determining the fire had begun where the witness saw him. When detained, Farinacci had matches and a butane lighter. Nowels said, "As it happens in so many critical cases, it was citizens who were paying attention to their surroundings, being aware and willing to step up and say something that led to the relatively quick apprehension of Mr. Farinacci."
Farinacci has a prior conviction for felony manslaughter in Arizona. His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday. It was unclear whether he had legal representation.
The Old Trails Fire started Saturday northwest of downtown Spokane and spread across the Spokane River into residential neighborhoods. By early Tuesday, the three fires had burned approximately 16 square miles. Residents returning to destroyed homes found only charred debris and in some cases chimneys remaining. The county initially received nearly 300 missing person reports, but by Monday had cleared all but 14, with authorities indicating those likely represented people out of contact since evacuation rather than those in danger.
More than 1,000 firefighters from multiple states arrived by Monday, with numbers expected to double within days. No deaths or major injuries have been reported.