Spokane Fire Suspect Has Prior Manslaughter Conviction

The man charged with intentionally setting Spokane’s largest wildfire previously served prison time for killing his father, a criminal history that adds a troubling dimension to an arson case that has devastated the Washington community.

Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, of Spokane, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three blazes burning in and around the eastern Washington city. He is being held on a $1 million bond and was scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday.

A Troubling Criminal History

Farinacci, then age 21, shot and killed his father in Mesa, Arizona, in 2010 during an argument about washing dishes, according to the Phoenix New Times. He also shot himself but survived. He was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty in 2012 to manslaughter and aggravated assault, and was released from prison in 2020 after serving approximately 12 years.

“Mr. Farinacci is a convicted felon out of the state of Arizona,” Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said at a press conference Monday night, as reported by Hindustan Times. “Major crimes detectives in Spokane County were able to identify him. They developed probable cause and determined the origin of the fire was indeed exactly where the witnesses had seen Mr. Farinacci kneeling in the grass earlier that day.”

How the Suspect Was Identified

A tip from a community member who saw a nervous-looking man bent by the side of the road near some grass led authorities to Farinacci, though they released him after initial questioning. When major crimes detectives started investigating, they again identified Farinacci and determined the fire had started where the witness had reportedly seen him.

Farinacci had waterproof matches and a butane lighter when he was detained, investigators said. He was arrested at his home without incident, and his home was also searched, according to NPR/WNYC.

“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.

Devastation Across Spokane

The Old Trails Fire began Saturday northwest of downtown Spokane, near Airway Heights, and quickly jumped the Spokane River, tearing through neighborhoods. The three fires in the area—Old Trails, Fairview, and Autumn Lane—have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced approximately 67,000 people to evacuate, according to AP News.

As of early Tuesday, the fires had burned about 16 square miles and remained 0% contained. No deaths or major injuries have been reported, though the county initially received nearly 300 reports of missing people. By Monday, all but 14 had been cleared, with those still unaccounted for likely people who had not been in contact since evacuating.

More than 1,000 firefighters, many from out of state, arrived by Monday, with that number expected to double. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency on Saturday, and the state’s congressional delegation requested an expedited federal emergency declaration, which President Donald Trump approved, as The Guardian reported.

Residents Face Total Loss

For many residents, the return to their neighborhoods brought only devastation. Miriam Sim, 76, surveyed the ruins of the home where she and her husband had lived since 2005. “There’s nothing to save,” she said. Her husband, Daniel, asked: “At our age, do we want to rebuild?”

Angela Deatherage, 49, described the loss of the home where she and her family had lived for nearly 22 years. “It’s just ash,” she said. “It’s like our house sunk down in the basement. There’s just so much loss for so many people.”

Karen Faggioli, 61, who is recovering from breast cancer, lost her house and three vehicles. “Why cry? What’s crying going to do?” she said. “I’ve been through so many tragedies myself. This is nothing. Like I told my granddaughter, ‘We’re strong—and now we get all new things.’ I’m emotionally numb.”

Broader Wildfire Crisis

The Spokane fires are part of a broader wildfire crisis across the Western U.S., where dozens of blazes are stretching the ability of federal, state, and local agencies to fight them. At least 390 square miles of land has burned across Washington, which has been dealing with a severe drought and paltry snowpack.

Authorities have not determined the cause of the other two fires in the Spokane area, and Sheriff Nowels said there is no indication Farinacci was responsible for them. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

As crews continue to battle the flames, Sen. Maria Cantwell offered a sober warning: “We are not out of danger. The next couple of days will be challenging.”

Farinacci’s first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday, with the Spokane County Public Defender’s office set to represent him during the hearing.