Arson suspect planned Spokane wildfire for weeks, police say, devastating neighborhoods

A man has been charged with arson in connection with a devastating wildfire in Spokane, Washington, that destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced thousands of evacuations. Police allege that 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci meticulously planned the Old Trails Fire for weeks, actively researching weather patterns to ensure optimal dry, windy conditions for the blaze to spread. He reportedly confessed to detectives that he selected Saturday, August 1st, due to anticipated winds reaching 50 mph, considering these circumstances "ideal" for igniting the fire.

Farinacci faces multiple counts of first-degree arson, with his bail set at $2 million. Beyond the recent Old Trails Fire, he has also admitted to setting 25 other fires since July 2025, with detectives corroborating four of these, including the Aubrey White Fire. During his confession, Farinacci reportedly described fire as "powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth." The wildfires have caused extensive damage, turning entire neighborhoods into ruins and leaving many residents with nothing but memories.