Full Breakdown
Spokane Wildfire Suspect Arrested Amid Ongoing Arson Investigation
8/5/2026, 2:55:43 AM
Core Event: Old Trails Fire and Arrest
A wildfire that began in the Old Trails area of Spokane destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, of Spokane, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson and booked on a $1 million bond. He denied starting the fire and was ordered to appear in court the following Tuesday. No deaths have been reported.
Background & Context
The Old Trails blaze was the largest of three fires that have burned across the region. Earlier incidents include several “bus-sized” fires reported on July 8, 2025 near Farinacci’s apartment and a separate wildfire in a state park that prompted evacuations the next month. Farinacci’s prior criminal record includes a 2010 murder of his father in Mesa, Arizona; he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012 and was released from probation in early 2024. A 2011 judge found him mentally fit to assist in his defense, though his attorney later raised mental-health concerns and noted multiple psychiatric hospitalizations.
Official Statements & Responses
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said citizens’ vigilance led to the rapid apprehension of the suspect. A sheriff’s detective described how a resident’s 911 call and description of a bald, white man in a green shirt resulted in deputies detaining Farinacci about a mile from the fire’s origin. The Spokane County Public Defender’s office confirmed it will represent Farinacci at his upcoming hearing. Fire-fighting agencies have deployed more than 1,000 firefighters, with additional resources expected as weather conditions grow hotter.
Data & Statistics
- Buildings destroyed: >= 700 (across three blazes)
- Structures lost in Old Trails Fire: hundreds
- Fire-fighter personnel on the ground: > 1,000, with numbers rising
- Bond set for Farinacci: $1 million
Verbatim Quotes
- “He was bent over in the brush, acting nervous,” — Paul Child
- “No longer than 10 minutes after I got home, my daughter says, ‘There’s a fire,’” — Paul Child
- “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,” — Sheriff John Nowels
- “Manslaughter is for when someone accidentally kills another person. It is not for someone who intentionally points a loaded gun at their father and shots him in his face and back,” — Beth Farinacci
