SPOKANE, Wash. -- Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives and Washington State Department of Natural Resources Fire Investigators announced late Monday that they have identified and arrested a suspect for arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three blazes that have devastated the Spokane area in recent days.

Here are the details in a news release from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office:

Major Crimes Detectives, working with DNR Investigators, identified a suspect in the Old Trails Fire and, through their investigation, developed probable cause to arrest 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci of Spokane, a convicted felon, for first-degree arson.

In collaboration with the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Farinacci and a search warrant for his residence.            

On Monday, Investigators, with the assistance of the Spokane County Warrant Service Group (a small contingent of SWAT Team members), served a search warrant at his residence in the 2800 block of W. Elliott Drive, and Farinacci was arrested without incident.  He was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail.

The Old Trails Fire, the largest of three fires devastating Spokane County and the City of Spokane, was initially reported on Saturday around noon, near the intersection of N. Old Trails Road and W. Euclid Road, north of the City of Airway Heights.

"Tips from citizens, along with information from Airway Heights Police Officers and Spokane County Sheriff's Deputies who responded to the initial call and conducted evacuations, proved to be extremely valuable to Fire Investigators, leading to today’s arrest," the sheriff's office said.

This remains an active investigation, as does the investigation into the cause and origins of the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires.  No additional information is available at this time.    

NBC News reported Farinacci was arrested after police said a witness reported seeing a man near the Old Trails Fire shortly before it started, Spokane County Sheriff Nowels said. The witness told police the man was looking into the trees and was later seen crouching at the side of a road near some grass, before he “stood up and looked very nervous” and walked away, Nowels said.

Deputies detained Farinacci the same day about a half-mile from where the fire started and questioned him, but he was ultimately released, Nowels said. He had waterproof matches and a butane lighter, which could have been used to spark the fires, the sheriff added.

On Sunday, major crimes detectives were able to link the suspect to the fire “and determined that the origin of the fire was indeed exactly where the witnesses had seen Mr. Farinacci kneeling in the grass,” Nowels told reporters.

NBC affiliate KHQ in Spokane said Farinacci was originally charged with first-degree murder in the 2010 killing of his father during a fight in Mesa, Arizona, in Maricopa County, and then tried to kill himself. That charge was dismissed following a grand jury indictment and his 2012 conviction on a manslaughter charge. 

Monday’s Information from the Spokane Complex Fire Incident Management Team (IMT).

Spokane Area Fires

Old Trails Fire, Fairview Fire, Autumn Lane Fire

Quick Facts

Location: Spokane and Stevens Counties

Start Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026

Cause: Under Investigation

Size in acres: 8,026 total acres

Percent contained: 0%

Favorable weather conditions allow firefighters to make gains on Spokane Area Fires

CURRENT SITUATION:

Cooler temperatures, higher humidities and thick smoke over the fire area on Sunday allowed firefighters to make significant gains on the Old Trails fire and Fairview fire. The Autumn Lane fire remained active throughout the day and overnight hours. Today, firefighters will continue immediate suppression efforts, point protection and life safety throughout the Spokane Area Fires. Aerial resources will continue supporting crews throughout the day, mainly on the Autumn Lane Fire.

Numerous structures have been affected by the Spokane Area Fires with an unconfirmed estimate of at least 600 structures impacted throughout the fire area. Damage assessment crews have been ordered, and they will focus their efforts on collecting more specific information which will be released as soon as possible.

A temporary flight restriction (TFR) remains in place over the Spokane Area Fires. Yesterday, there were 26 reported UAS incursions into the fire area. These incursions significantly impact fire operations as aircraft managers could suspend aerial firefighting suppression operations which jeopardize firefighting crews and the public. All unauthorized UAS flights over wildfires will be reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and law enforcement agencies. Remember, if you fly, we can’t!

WEATHER:

Cooler temperatures and calmer winds are expected today throughout the fire area. A warming trend starting mid-week will raise temperatures into the mid to high-90’s with relative humidity in the lower teens.

EVACUATIONS, SHELTERS, CLOSURES:

For current evacuation levels in Spokane County, please visit: https://srec911.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=337af083184c474d9d9181bb44f957b0
 
For current evacuation levels in Stevens County, please visit: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9cd2ea8b059b4c87939f83461fd57894?draft=true 

An evacuation shelter is open for those affected by the Old Trails Fire at the Spokane Convention Center. It is located at 334 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard in Spokane, Washington. Parking at the shelter is free, and pets are welcome.

For those affected and/or displaced by the Fairview Fire, an evacuation center has been established at Northwood Middle School.

An animal shelter is open at the Spokane County Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds has the RV grounds open as well for those with evacuated animals.

There is a Red Cross Shelter available for those evacuated in south Stevens County. It is located in Chewelah at Jenkins High School.

Facebook: @SpokaneAreaFires

Email: 2026.oldtrailsfire@firenet.gov

Site: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wanes-spokane-area-fires  

Fire Information: 509-215-8236

Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.