Overview
- Three fast-moving wildfires began over the weekend, with the Old Trails Fire igniting on Saturday and becoming the largest and most destructive of the group.
- A local witness reported seeing a nervous man near the fire’s origin, deputies detained and briefly released the suspect, and investigators arrested him on Monday after ruling out accidental causes.
- Authorities charged 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci with first-degree arson and say he was found with waterproof matches and a butane lighter while he denies starting the blaze.
- The Spokane Complex fires have burned thousands of acres, destroyed roughly 700 structures, placed about 64,000–67,000 people under evacuation orders, and mobilized more than 1,000 firefighters and federal and state aid.
- Probes into the other two fires are continuing, investigators are reviewing Farinacci’s prior manslaughter conviction and earlier 2025 contacts in fire inquiries, and officials warn worsening weather and stretched resources could affect recovery and containment.