A man accused of setting one of the largest wildfires in eastern Washington has a history of violent crimes, according to court records. Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire.
The fire, one of three blazes burning in and around Spokane, has destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate. Authorities have not alleged any connection between Farinacci and the other two fires, which remain under investigation.
Court records show that Farinacci was initially charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in a 2010 Arizona homicide before pleading guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and released on December 23, 2020.
Less than six years after his release from prison, Farinacci again found himself accused of a major crime. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office said detectives and fire investigators identified him as the suspect after developing probable cause during the investigation.
Detectives obtained arrest and search warrants before taking Farinacci into custody without incident at his Spokane residence, where he was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree arson. The sheriff credited observant residents with helping investigators quickly identify the suspect.
The first-degree arson charge reflects the evidence investigators currently have, but additional charges could be considered as the investigation continues and authorities assess the full scope of the fire's destruction.
The arrest came hours after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee pointed to climate change as firefighters battled the region's destructive wildfires. Inslee said, "Climate change isn't some existential global thing. It's our neighbors. It's our friends."
Farinacci was carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter when deputies first contacted him, investigators said. Fire investigators later determined the blaze was consistent with dry grass being ignited by a match or lighter.
