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Aaron Farinacci Arrested for Spokane Arson, $2 Million Bond

8/7/2026

35 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

U.S. authorities arrested Aaron Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of arson for Spokane’s Old Trails Fire.
A judge raised his bond to $2 million and ordered a mental-competency evaluation.
An affidavit says Farinacci planned the blaze two weeks ahead, researching weather and a time-delay device.
The fire burned 3,576 acres, destroyed 700 buildings and forced 60,000 evacuations, with no deaths.

History

Historical Context

The Oakland Hills firestorm ignited on October 19-20 1991, rapidly spreading across 1,520 acres of the Bay Area’s wildland-urban interface under Diablo winds. Cal Fire recorded 25 deaths, 2,843 homes lost, and $1.5 billion in damages, prompting a 107-alarm response involving 400 engines, 1,500 firefighters and NASA Ames satellite support. The disaster spurred the Oakland-Berkeley Mayors’ Task Force and new state fire-safety regulations.

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Story summary

U.S. authorities arrested Aaron Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of arson for Spokane’s Old Trails Fire.
A judge raised his bond to $2 million and ordered a mental-competency evaluation.
An affidavit says Farinacci planned the blaze two weeks ahead, researching weather and a time-delay device.
The fire burned 3,576 acres, destroyed 700 buildings and forced 60,000 evacuations, with no deaths.

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