Old Trails Fire Arson Arrest: Who Is Aaron Farinacci?

How the Investigation Unfolded

According to Sheriff Nowels, the case began around 10 a.m. Saturday, August 1 — roughly two hours before the Old Trails Fire was reported — when a resident near the intersection of Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road saw a man bending down near some grass on the roadside. The witness saw the same man again a short time later while driving home, then noticed smoke rising from that same area and called police.

An Airway Heights police officer located a man matching the description about 1.5 miles from where the fire had started. He was identified, questioned, and released at the scene so that responders could focus on the fast-growing fire — a decision Nowels defended by noting that officers that day didn't yet have the information detectives would later develop. Investigators subsequently used body-worn camera footage from that initial encounter, along with days of follow-up evidence gathering, to build a case that the man — later identified as Farinacci — had started the fire using a match or lighter. When he was originally contacted, he was found in possession of waterproof matches and a butane lighter.

The Old Trails Fire ignited near N. Old Trails Road and W. Euclid Road on the afternoon of August 1.

On Monday afternoon, Spokane County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes detectives, working with Washington State Department of Natural Resources fire investigators, obtained an arrest warrant for Farinacci and a search warrant for his residence in the 2800 block of West Elliott Drive. Members of the Sheriff's Office Warrant Service Group, a small SWAT contingent, served the warrant, and Farinacci was taken into custody without incident around 5 p.m. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of first-degree arson. Nowels said Farinacci told investigators after his arrest, "You don't know the whole story," though authorities have not elaborated on what that statement was meant to convey.

Who Is Aaron Farinacci?

Farinacci is described by the Sheriff's Office as a current Spokane-area resident, though officials say it's unclear how long he has lived there. He has a prior felony conviction out of Arizona: court records show he was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault after killing his father during an argument in Mesa, Arizona, in 2010, reportedly stemming from a dispute over household chores. He was sentenced to 12 years, received credit for time served, was released from prison in December 2020, and was discharged from probation in December 2024.

Nowels said Farinacci has no documented prior arson convictions, but had previously been contacted by law enforcement over "arson-related behavior" in the area — contacts that never led to an arrest or conviction. The sheriff credited the arrest to residents who noticed unusual behavior and reported it: "It was through the work of vigilant citizens who were noticing things awry in their community... who took the time to engage with law enforcement," Nowels said. It was not immediately clear Monday night whether Farinacci had retained an attorney.

What Happens Next

• ✓Farinacci was scheduled for his first court appearance on Tuesday, August 4, where bail conditions and formal charges are typically addressed.
• ✓Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam's office is handling the case; Sheriff Nowels said investigators "will also be looking into other charges that may come about as the facts and circumstances of the Old Trails Fire come to light."
• ✓The investigation remains open. Authorities have not said whether additional suspects are being sought or whether the case is considered closed on the cause question.
• ✓Governor Bob Ferguson called the allegation an addition to the community's "absolute anguish," noting it's "heartbreaking to think that much of this damage could have been caused by an individual doing this on purpose."

This remains an active legal case, and details can change quickly as prosecutors file formal charges and the case proceeds. For live updates on evacuation status, containment, and the broader Spokane Complex Fire, see our main coverage here. For official case updates, Spokane County's newsroom page and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office are the authoritative sources.