Spokane man booked on suspicion of arson in Old Trails Fire

A Spokane man was arrested Monday, August 3, 2026, and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three wildfires burning around Spokane.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Aaron F. Farinacci, 37. The arrest came as the three fires remained uncontained and had destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate around Spokane, according to Associated Press reporting.

Investigators revisited an earlier tip

Sheriff John Nowels said a community member initially reported seeing a nervous-looking man bent near grass beside a road. Authorities questioned Farinacci and released him after the initial questioning, Nowels said.

Major-crimes detectives later reviewed body-worn-camera footage and reports, according to the sheriff. Investigators again identified Farinacci and concluded, in the sheriff’s account, that the fire had started where the witness had seen him.

Nowels said Farinacci had matches and a butane lighter when he was detained. Those details are allegations and statements from the investigation; they have not been established as court findings.

Farinacci remains accused, and an arrest or booking is not a conviction. Authorities had not publicly identified causes for the other two Spokane-area fires in the latest approved reporting.

Three fires caused widespread local damage

As of Monday, August 3, the three fires had destroyed at least 700 buildings and prompted about 67,000 evacuations around Spokane, AP reported. The figure covers the Spokane area and does not mean that all evacuees were inside Spokane city limits.

The Old Trails Fire began northwest of downtown Spokane before crossing the Spokane River and damaging neighborhoods. AP reported that some residents were returning to find their homes destroyed, while others remained unable to return because of restrictions and continuing emergency work.

The scale of the damage means residents, property owners and businesses still face uncertainty about access, cleanup and recovery while firefighters work to control the blazes. Conditions, evacuation restrictions and access to affected neighborhoods can change as officials continue the response.

First court appearance expected Tuesday

Farinacci’s first court appearance was expected Tuesday, August 4, according to Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam. AP reported that it was not immediately clear whether Farinacci had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

The case remains in its preliminary stage. The next accountability steps are the court proceedings and continuing criminal investigation, while officials still must determine the causes of the other two fires and bring the wildfire response to containment.

Residents should check current official evacuation, shelter and incident-status information before returning to an affected area. Washington’s wildfire resource page provides links to state and local emergency information, but residents should rely on the latest incident-specific instructions from authorities.

Sources

• Associated Press arrest report
• Washington Wildfire Resources