SPOKANE, Wash. — Authorities arrested a 37-year-old Spokane man on Monday, charging him with arson in connection with one of the wildfires that have devastated the region, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing tens of thousands to flee.
Aaron F. Farinacci was booked on suspicion of first-degree arson for the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three blazes burning around Spokane, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. The fires have collectively razed at least 700 structures and prompted evacuations of roughly 67,000 residents. Officials have not yet identified a cause for the other two fires.
Sheriff John Nowels said a community tip initially led deputies to Farinacci, who was seen acting nervously near dry grass along a road. He was questioned and released, but after detectives reviewed body-worn camera footage and other reports, they determined the fire's origin matched the location where the witness spotted him. Farinacci was carrying matches and a butane lighter when detained.
“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,” Nowels said.
Farinacci is scheduled for his first court appearance Tuesday, according to Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam. It was unclear whether he has legal representation. Court records show he has a prior felony manslaughter conviction in Arizona.
The Old Trails Fire ignited Saturday northwest of downtown Spokane, jumping the Spokane River and tearing through neighborhoods. On Monday, some residents returned to find their homes reduced to rubble, with only chimneys standing amid charred debris. Miriam Sim, 76, and her husband Daniel, who had lived in their home since 2005, surveyed the ruins. “There’s nothing to save,” Miriam said, while Daniel questioned whether they could rebuild at their age.
The three fires have burned approximately 12.5 square miles (32 square kilometers). Calmer winds and cooler temperatures aided firefighters, but hot, dry conditions are expected to return by midweek. In one neighborhood, melted recycling bins and heat-twisted vehicles sat alongside untouched lawns where residents continued to water their properties.
Washington’s entire congressional delegation wrote to President Donald Trump on Monday, requesting an expedited emergency declaration, noting that “hundreds of people have completely lost their homes and farms, and many are prohibited from returning to their homes or neighborhoods as crews continue to extinguish smoldering embers.”
No deaths or major injuries have been reported. The sheriff’s office received nearly 300 missing-person reports, but by Monday all but 14 had been cleared, with those likely reflecting displaced individuals rather than genuine emergencies. The fires remain completely uncontained, with more than 1,000 firefighters on scene, a number expected to double in coming days.
The blazes are among dozens across the Western U.S. stretching firefighting resources. Over 1,000 square kilometers have burned in Washington alone, which is facing severe drought and a diminished snowpack. Officials warned against flying drones near the affected areas, as they could force aerial crews to halt operations.
Residents like Angela and Wayde Deatherage, who evacuated with little more than family photos and heirloom rings, returned to find their home of 22 years reduced to ash. Wayde, who had earlier helped save a neighbor’s house by spraying it with a hose, described the scene as “just ash.” Karen Faggioli, a breast cancer survivor, remained stoic after losing her home and three vehicles, telling her granddaughter, “We’re strong — and now we get all new things.”
Governor Bob Ferguson has confirmed direct talks with President Trump on the wildfire crisis, as the state seeks federal assistance to manage the unprecedented destruction.
