The criminal case focuses on one blaze, not the entire Spokane wildfire emergency. Officials say three major fires have burned thousands of acres, destroyed structures and left key questions unresolved.
Authorities arrested Aaron Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of arson in Spokane’s largest wildfire, the Old Trails Fire, on Monday, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said. The arrest is tied to one of three major wildfires in the Spokane area of Washington, where evacuations are affecting 67,000 people, structures have been destroyed and officials have cited a $1 million bond in Farinacci’s case.
The case gives investigators a suspect in one fire, but not an explanation for the broader emergency. Officials have not said Farinacci is linked to the other two major Spokane-area blazes.
One case, three major fires
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said Farinacci was taken into custody without incident after a judge signed a warrant based on an allegation of first-degree arson, according to NBC News. Officials said a SWAT team assisted in the arrest.
Nowels said Farinacci was being held on $1 million bond. As of the initial reports, it was unclear whether he had been formally charged or whether he had an attorney who could speak for him.
The distinction matters: the criminal investigation described by officials centers on the Old Trails Fire. Nowels said there was no evidence connecting Farinacci to the other two major fires in the region.
Why Old Trails drew attention
The Old Trails Fire had burned 3,619 acres, according to figures cited by officials Monday. It was described as the largest of the three major Spokane-area fires.
Federal incident commander Tom Clemo said the three major fires together had burned more than 8,000 acres and were zero percent contained Monday night. Clemo said the fires had destroyed an estimated 700 structures and caused evacuations affecting 67,000 people in the Spokane area.
Those figures put the arrest in a much wider frame. For residents, the central question is not only whether someone started one fire, but whether neighborhoods, roads and property remain at risk while crews work to contain multiple burn areas.
The timeline investigators described
Nowels said the Old Trails Fire began around 10 a.m. Saturday. Investigators focused on Farinacci after a witness reported seeing a man near the area shortly before the fire started, according to the sheriff’s account.
The witness told police the man was looking into the trees and was later seen crouching near grass at the side of a road before standing up, appearing nervous and walking away, Nowels said.
Deputies detained Farinacci later Saturday about a half-mile from where the fire started and questioned him, officials said. He was released at that time.
Nowels said Farinacci had waterproof matches and a butane lighter, items investigators said could have been used to start a fire. By Sunday, major crimes detectives had linked him to the blaze, according to Nowels, who said investigators determined the fire’s origin was in the same place where witnesses had seen Farinacci kneeling in the grass.
Evacuations reshape daily life
The evacuation figure — 67,000 people affected — signals a crisis that extends far beyond the footprint of one criminal case. Three major fires burning at once can stretch firefighting resources, evacuation routes, shelters and public information systems.
Officials estimated that 700 structures had been destroyed. That number can include homes, businesses, outbuildings or other property, and the available information did not specify how many were residences.
The disruption is also practical and immediate. Evacuations can force families to leave pets, livestock, medications, vehicles or work behind on short notice. Older residents, people with disabilities, families with children and workers without flexible schedules can face added strain even when an evacuation is temporary.
The zero-containment figure reported Monday night added to the uncertainty. Until firefighters establish control lines and conditions improve, residents may not know when they can return or whether additional areas could be ordered to leave.
Legal stakes and limits
The allegation against Farinacci is serious, but an arrest on suspicion of arson does not establish guilt. Any criminal case would still have to move through court, and prosecutors would need to prove the allegation.
Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam said Farinacci was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. McCollam also said Farinacci had previously been questioned about “arson-related behavior,” though he had not been arrested or convicted in those earlier matters.
McCollam said Farinacci had a criminal record in Arizona, including a manslaughter conviction. That history was cited by officials, but the current case still depends on evidence tied to the Old Trails Fire.
For investigators, the key issues include where the fire began, who was present, whether any ignition source can be tied to a suspect and whether intent can be proven. Fire investigations can be difficult when terrain burns quickly and scenes change under active emergency conditions.
What remains unresolved
The arrest narrows one part of the Spokane wildfire story, but it does not settle the larger emergency. Officials have not attributed the other two major fires to Farinacci, and the causes of those fires remain separate questions based on the available information.
It also remains unclear how soon evacuation levels may change, when containment will improve and how many destroyed or damaged structures were homes. Those details will matter for residents seeking insurance payments, disaster aid and a path back to normal life.
For now, the confirmed criminal case is tied to the Old Trails Fire. The broader Spokane-area crisis remains a three-fire emergency with thousands displaced, hundreds of structures reported lost and many answers still pending.
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