Authorities arrested a Spokane man on Monday in connection with the largest of three destructive wildfires currently scorching eastern Washington. The blazes have destroyed over 700 buildings, forced roughly 67,000 evacuations across the region, and left emergency crews bracing for a renewed surge of high temperatures later this week.
Aaron F. Farinacci Arrested on Arson Charges in Spokane
A Spokane, Washington, man was arrested and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, which stands as the largest of three blazes tearing through the region. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported that 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci was held on a $1 million bond following his Monday apprehension.
Investigators initially questioned Farinacci after a community member reported seeing a nervous-looking man bent by the side of the road near a grassy area where the fire originated. Although authorities briefly released him after initial questioning, major crimes detectives subsequently reviewed body-worn camera footage and witness reports. They determined the fire had indeed started where the witness spotted him.
“We believe it was matches or a lighter. When he was detained … he was found to be in possession of some waterproof matches and a butane lighter.”
Sheriff John Nowels, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff John Nowels praised community vigilance during a press conference, noting that citizens paying attention to their surroundings were crucial to the relatively swift apprehension. According to Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam, Farinacci is scheduled for his first court appearance on Tuesday. Jail records and sheriff statements indicate he also carries a prior felony manslaughter conviction from Arizona.
Devastation Across Neighborhoods and Evacuations Impacting Thousands
The weekend outbreaks erupted across a parched landscape driven by extreme drought, bone-dry brush, high heat, and wicked winds. By Monday, the combined blazes had charred approximately 12.5 square miles, or about 32 square kilometers. More than 700 buildings have been destroyed around Washington state’s second-largest city, with an estimated 400 additional structures awaiting official assessment.
State officials have confronted the disaster with stark assessments. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson called the event a nightmare situation
and stated that this is likely the worst natural disaster in Spokane history.
Some residents returned on Monday to find little remaining of their properties. Miriam Sim, 76, surveyed the ruins alongside her husband, Daniel Sim, after losing the home where they had lived since 2005. There’s nothing to save,
she said, while her husband questioned their future: At our age, do we want to rebuild?
Other homeowners fought to defend their property lines directly. Wayde and Angela Deatherage evacuated with their son on Saturday afternoon, only to receive security camera fire alerts on their phones minutes later. Wayde Deatherage returned via back roads to find his own home lost, but managed to prop a hose at another house, successfully saving it from the flames.
Search Efforts for the Missing and Rising Heat Risks Ahead
While no deaths or major injuries had been officially confirmed as of Monday, emergency services faced hundreds of inquiries regarding missing individuals. Cpl. Mark Gregory, a spokesperson for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, explained that the agency initially received nearly 300 reports of missing people before clearing all but 14.
Sheriff John Nowels emphasized that those remaining individuals should not immediately be categorized as missing persons in danger. Poor cell phone coverage, depleted phone batteries, and temporary shelters often prevent evacuees from checking in. These are people who may have called for help or for help evacuating, and many of them likely did get evacuated,
Nowels said.
Firefighting resources remain heavily strained as more than 1,000 personnel operate in the region, with numbers expected to double soon. Daniel Ramey, a spokesperson for the California Interagency Incident Management Team 7, noted that the fires’ severity stems largely from burning within the wildland-urban interface where human structures sit on the edge or within the wilderness.
With milder conditions providing a temporary reprieve early in the week, forecasters predict a sharp return to severe weather. Daniel Ramey warned that temperatures climbing into the 90s by mid-week will heighten urgency for containment crews working to secure northern fire lines and clear residents for safe returns.
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