Overview
- A 37-year-old Spokane resident, Aaron F. Farinacci, was arrested and charged with first-degree arson on Monday and is being held on a $1 million bond.
- Sheriffs say a local witness reported seeing a man kneeling where the Old Trails Fire began, deputies later identified the same man on body‑worn camera footage, and investigators found waterproof matches and a butane lighter in his packs.
- The Old Trails Fire is one of three fast-moving blazes that broke out over the weekend and together have destroyed roughly 700 structures and forced about 60,000 to 67,000 people to evacuate.
- Officials stress the arson charge applies only to the Old Trails Fire and that the causes of the two other Spokane-area fires remain under active investigation.
- Firefighting and emergency response resources have been stretched, more than 1,000 personnel have been deployed to the zone, federal and state aid has been requested, and officials warn weather-driven conditions could complicate containment and recovery.