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Aaron F Farinacci faces arson charges after sparking one of three fires destroying 850 buildings in Spokane

Aaron F Farinacci, a 37-year-old resident of Spokane, faces first-degree arson charges after allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire, one of three major blazes making up the Spokane Complex. The fires have destroyed approximately 850 buildings and forced the evacuation of 67,000 people since erupting last weekend. Firefighters from two dozen states are working 16-hour shifts to establish containment lines as temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 90sF. While the Old Trails Fire was deliberately set by Farinacci, the other two fires—Autumn Lane and Fairview—were also started by humans, though not necessarily intentionally. Experts note that while some residents have proposed conspiracy theories regarding the fire's spread, the destruction is largely attributed to dry conditions and high winds. The administration previously cut federal funding for fire mitigation efforts, which has impacted the way communities are designed for wildfire resilience. Firefighters are currently working to mitigate hot spots while drones and other aerial support continue to be deployed to manage the atmosphere.

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