Aaron Farinacci, 37, has been charged with five counts of first-degree arson after prosecutors say he planned and ignited the Old Trails Fire and confessed to roughly 25 earlier wildfires near Spokane beginning in July 2025. The Old Trails Fire burned more than 3,500 acres and destroyed over 400 structures; prosecutors say investigators corroborated four earlier incidents and the probe is ongoing. A $2 million bond was set and a stay hearing is scheduled for September 4.
Man Charged After Authorities Say He Planned and Lit Multiple Spokane Wildfires
Arson suspect Aaron Farinacci waits for his initial court appearance by video at the county courthouse in Spokane, Wash., Tuesday, Aug. 4. - Young Kwak/AP
Authorities say a Spokane man meticulously planned and ignited multiple wildfires that scorched neighborhoods and forced thousands to flee. Prosecutors allege 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci admitted to starting the Old Trails Fire and roughly two dozen earlier blazes near his home; he has been charged in several corroborated cases and faces five counts of first-degree arson tied to recent destructive fires.
Spokane Valley firefighters battle flames in response to the Fairview Fire on the weekend of August 1. - Spokane Valley Fire Department
Charges, Arrest and Court Status
Farinacci was charged last week with five counts of first-degree arson, including an indictment tied to the Old Trails Fire, which began on August 1 and has burned more than 3,500 acres and destroyed over 400 structures. Prosecutors say investigators corroborated four earlier fires linked to Farinacci and that he has admitted to starting roughly 25 fires near his western Spokane apartment since July 2025. He is being held on $2 million bond, and a stay hearing is scheduled for September 4. His attorneys said they will seek a competency evaluation.
People watch the Old Trails Fire from W. Northwest Blvd. in Spokane, Washington, Saturday, Aug. 1. - Young Kwak/AP
Allegations and Investigation Details
According to court documents and an affidavit from Spokane County Sheriff's Detective Michael Drapeau, prosecutors say Farinacci planned the Old Trails Fire for about two weeks, using weather apps and wildfire data to choose a day with high winds, low humidity and high heat. Investigators allege he constructed a makeshift time-delay ignition device from paper, matches, a cigarette and a rubber band, placed it in grass near a fence and retreated while watching smoke rise.
A satellite image shows wildfire damage to the Balboa neighborhood by the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington, August 3. - Vantor/Reuters
“He feels fire is powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth,” Detective Drapeau wrote in the affidavit, which also says Farinacci understood how to exploit firefighting and law enforcement responses.
Prosecutors say Farinacci researched convicted serial arsonists and studied wildfire behavior and suppression tactics. They allege he set multiple fires intentionally to "separate," "divide" and "spread thin" firefighting resources and then monitored the blazes on news and social media.
A photo of Alexis DeLeo while she carries a firehose. - Courtesy Laura Doran
Timeline Of Alleged Incidents
The affidavit and charging documents highlight several earlier fires investigators say were tied to Farinacci:
The Spokane fires burn in the distance. - Alexis DeLeo
- July 6, 2025 — Aubrey White Fire near the Centennial Trail: more than 1,200 acres burned.
- July 8, 2025 — Copper River/Meenach Fires: multiple brush fires ignited from separate points, forcing evacuations.
- August 11, 2025 — Equestrian Fire near Riverside State Park: troopers reportedly found the suspect out of breath on a bench.
- July 24, 2026 — Indian Bluff Fire near Riverside State Park: a state investigator said he saw a man later identified as Farinacci walking away from the scene.
Prosecutors allege these incidents preceded the devastating Old Trails Fire on August 1. Investigators say they traced Old Trails' point of origin to the location where a witness reported seeing a man acting suspiciously the morning the blaze began; deputies later stopped Farinacci about 1.5 miles away, finding a lighter, cigarettes and windproof matches in his possession.
Alexis DeLeo's home before the Old Trails wildfire destroyed it. - Courtesy Alexis DeLeo
Victims And Community Impact
The wildfires across Spokane — including the Autumn Lane, Old Trails and Fairview fires — damaged more than 900 structures and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. The Old Trails Fire alone burned more than 3,500 acres and destroyed more than 400 structures; at the time of reporting it was 43% contained.
Alexis DeLeo's home after the wildfire destroyed it. - Courtesy Alexis DeLeo
Among those displaced was firefighter Alexis DeLeo, who evacuated family members, returned to work fighting the same blaze and later learned her home had been destroyed. Community fundraising efforts have started to support DeLeo and other victims.
Background On The Accused
Court records and news reports show Farinacci has a prior violent conviction: he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault in Arizona stemming from a 2010 incident in which his father was fatally shot; he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Prosecutors note that after becoming a father in May 2025, Farinacci allegedly began having trouble coping and — they say — started lighting fires the following month.
Ongoing Investigation
Prosecutors say the investigation is active and additional charges could be filed as more evidence is corroborated. Defense attorneys have indicated they will seek competency evaluation and the case is moving through initial court proceedings.
Note: All allegations are from court documents and statements by prosecutors and investigators. The defendant has the right to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.
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