Convicted felon arrested for allegedly starting Spokane fire
A convicted felon has been arrested for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire near Spokane, Washington, which has destroyed hundreds of structures. More than 65,000 people have been evacuated because of three fires burning across the area.
Aaron Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody without incident at about 5 p.m. Monday in Spokane, according to Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels. He was arrested on one count of first-degree arson and ordered held on $1 million bond.
More than 700 structures have been destroyed by the three fires over the past 48 hours, with the majority of the losses attributed to the Old Trails Fire. Preliminary information indicates that as many as 1,100 structures may have been lost.
The investigation began shortly after the Old Trails Fire started near Old Trail Road and Euclid Road on August 1. A witness who was driving through the area saw a man standing along the road and looking into the trees.
When the witness returned about 10 minutes later, the man was bending down near some grass. He stood up, appeared nervous and walked away, according to Nowels.
The witness later saw smoke rising from the area where the man had been kneeling and returned to the scene. The witness gave an Airway Heights police officer a physical description of the man and details about his clothing.
Farinacci was stopped about 1.5 miles from where the fire began and was identified by the witness. He was questioned and released because many of the details later uncovered by investigators were not yet known to the deputies who detained him.
Major Crimes detectives reviewed body-camera footage and reports from the encounter before working with investigators from the Washington Department of Natural Resources. They determined that the fire originated at the same location where the witness had seen Farinacci kneeling in the grass.
Nowels said Farinacci had waterproof matches and a butane lighter when he was initially detained. Investigators believe matches or a lighter were used to start the fire.
Detectives worked with prosecutors Monday morning before presenting applications for an arrest warrant and search warrant to a judge at about 3 p.m. Both were approved, and Farinacci was arrested two hours later.
Nowels said Farinacci is a Spokane resident with a felony manslaughter conviction in Arizona. He was initially arrested on a premeditated murder charge in the same case, but the sheriff did not provide further details.
Investigators are examining whether Farinacci may be connected to other crimes and whether additional charges could be filed.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
