Spokane County authorities have charged 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three wildfires currently burning near Spokane, Washington. During a court appearance on Thursday, a judge set Mr. Farinacci's bond at $2 million and ordered a mental competency evaluation. The suspect has not yet entered a plea regarding the allegations.
According to an affidavit released on Wednesday, investigators stated that Mr. Farinacci admitted during a police interview to planning the fire two weeks in advance. The document alleges that the suspect used a weather application to select a day with high heat, low humidity, and strong winds to ignite the blaze. Detectives reported that the suspect also researched methods to create a time-delay ignition device.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s office reported that Mr. Farinacci was arrested on Monday after being observed kneeling near grass at the site where the fire began. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of matches and a lighter. Authorities noted that the suspect had been previously linked to two other fire investigations in 2025.
In addition to the current charges, the affidavit states that Mr. Farinacci claimed responsibility for 25 other fires in the area starting in July 2025. The document notes he told investigators he was fascinated by fire following the birth of his son in May 2025. While he allegedly acknowledged knowing the conditions would make the fire "bad," he stated he did not intend for it to reach its current size.
For individual property owners like Matt Kincanon, who confirmed the loss of his home in the Old Trails Fire, the outcome of this case represents a formal accounting for the destruction of their primary assets. Residents reported experiencing significant psychological trauma from the event. Some stated that the identification of a suspect provided a sense of closure by ruling out natural causes, while others expressed hope that the legal system would provide a punishment proportional to the scale of the property damage and displacement.
The case also involves ongoing efforts by local authorities to locate 14 individuals with whom they have been unable to establish contact by mobile phone. While these individuals are not yet classified as missing, the outcome of the investigation into the fire's origin and the suspect's alleged history of 25 prior fires may influence future fire prevention and law enforcement strategies in the region. Mr. Farinacci remains in police custody pending the results of his court-ordered mental competency evaluation and future hearings.