Aaron Farinacci Arrested as Primary Suspect in Spokane Region's Largest Wildfire
Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old resident of Spokane, Washington, was arrested Monday on an allegation of first-degree arson regarding the Old Trails Fire. The fire, which is the largest of three major blazes in the region, has consumed 3,619 acres and destroyed an700 structures, forcing the evacuation of 67,000 people. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels reported that a witness spotted Farinacci looking nervous near the fire's origin shortly before it began on Saturday. While Farinacci was initially detained and released on the same day, detectives later linked him to the fire after confirming the origin matched the witness's report. Farinacci has a previous criminal record, including a 2012 conviction for manslaughter. The Old Trails Fire is part of a broader, destructive wildfire season in the Pacific Northwest, where more than 100 large fires remain uncontained nationwide. The region's smoke has pushed air quality to unhealthy levels in at least 24 cities.