Aaron Farinacci arrested on first-degree arson charges for starting the Old Trails fire in Washington
Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old Spokane resident, has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails fire. This fire, one of three major blazes tearing through eastern Washington, has scorched over 10,000 acres and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. Law enforcement identified Farinacci as the suspect after witness Paul Child reported seeing him acting nervous and kneeling in the brush near the fire's origin. While Farinacci denied starting the fire, investigators determined the cause was consistent with an open flame from a match or lighter, which Farinacci possessed at the time of his detention. Records show Farinacci has a history of violent crime, having served nearly a decade in prison for the manslaughter and aggravated assault of his father in 2010. He is currently being held on $1 million bail. Firefighters continue to work to be containment lines for the three fires, which are being fueled by an extraordinary fire season characterized by extreme heat and drought.