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Man Charged With Arson in Largest Spokane Wildfire That Destroyed Hundreds of Buildings/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ A 37-year-old man has been charged with first-degree arson in connection with the largest of three wildfires devastating the Spokane, Washington, area. The fires have destroyed at least 700 buildings, burned about 16 square miles and forced approximately 67,000 people to evacuate. The suspect previously served prison time after pleading guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault in his father’s 2010 death.

Quick Look

• Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested in connection with the Old Trails Fire.
• He was booked on suspicion of first-degree arson.
• A judge set his bond at $1 million.
• A community member’s tip helped investigators identify Farinacci.
• Authorities said he had matches and a lighter when detained.
• Farinacci previously served prison time for manslaughter in his father’s death.
• Three Spokane-area fires have destroyed at least 700 buildings.
• Approximately 67,000 residents were ordered to evacuate.
• The fires had burned about 16 square miles by early Tuesday.
• None of the three fires had been contained as of Tuesday morning.
• More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed, with that number expected to double.
• No deaths or major injuries had been reported.
• President Donald Trump approved an expedited emergency declaration.

Deep Look

Man Charged in Spokane’s Largest Wildfire

SPOKANE, Wash. — A man who previously served prison time for manslaughter in his father’s death has been charged with setting the largest of three wildfires burning in and around Spokane.

Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, of Spokane, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

His bond was set at $1 million, and he was expected to appear in court Tuesday.

Authorities have not announced suspected causes for the other two fires.

Hundreds of Buildings Destroyed

The three fires had destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced approximately 67,000 residents to evacuate.

None of the blazes had been contained as of Tuesday morning.

The Old Trails Fire is the largest of the three fires affecting Spokane, Washington’s second-largest city, and surrounding communities.

Sheriff John Nowels said a community member reported seeing a nervous-looking man bent down near roadside grass.

The tip led authorities to Farinacci, although deputies released him after initially questioning him.

Major crimes detectives later identified Farinacci again and determined that the fire began near the location where the witness reported seeing him, Nowels said.

Authorities said Farinacci had matches and a lighter when he was detained.

Attorney Status Initially Unclear

Authorities had not immediately confirmed whether Farinacci had an attorney who could comment on the allegation.

No phone number could be located for him. An email was sent to the Spokane County Public Defender’s Office, while a message was directed to a possible social media account belonging to one of his brothers.

Suspect Served Prison Time in Father’s Death

In 2010, Farinacci, then 21, shot and killed his father during an argument over washing dishes in Mesa, Arizona, according to police accounts at the time.

Farinacci also shot himself but survived.

Prosecutors initially charged him with murder, but he pleaded guilty in 2012 to manslaughter and aggravated assault.

Records show that Farinacci was released from prison in 2020.

Old Trails Fire Sweeps Through Neighborhoods

The Old Trails Fire began Saturday northwest of downtown Spokane.

It later crossed the Spokane River and spread through residential neighborhoods.

Together, the three fires had burned approximately 16 square miles, or 41 square kilometers, by early Tuesday.

Weekend winds later weakened and changed direction, carrying smoke west across Washington, including into the Seattle area.

Weather Could Complicate Firefighting Efforts

Firefighting conditions were expected to deteriorate again Wednesday as winds increased and temperatures climbed into the 90s Fahrenheit, or between 32 and 37 degrees Celsius.

Benjamin Cossel, a spokesperson for the fire incident management team, warned that the changing weather could create new challenges for crews.

Washington has been experiencing severe drought conditions and an unusually low snowpack, contributing to elevated wildfire danger.

Residents Return to Destroyed Homes

Some residents who evacuated over the weekend returned Monday to find their homes reduced to rubble.

In several locations, chimneys were among the only structures still standing.

In one neighborhood, burned vehicles, a heat-damaged boat and melted recycling bins remained among the destruction.

Across the street, some homes and green lawns survived as residents continued spraying their properties with hoses and sprinklers.

Trump Approves Emergency Declaration

Washington’s congressional delegation asked President Donald Trump to approve an expedited emergency declaration to support the response.

Missing-Person Reports Decline

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office initially received nearly 300 reports of missing people.

By Monday, authorities had resolved all but 14 cases, according to spokesperson Cpl. Mark Gregory.

Officials said those who remained unaccounted for were probably evacuees who had not contacted relatives rather than people believed to be missing or in immediate danger.

No deaths or major injuries had been reported.

Firefighting Resources Stretched Across the West

More than 1,000 firefighters, including many from outside Washington, had arrived by Monday.

Officials expected that number to double over the next several days.

The Spokane-area blazes are among dozens of fires straining federal, state and local firefighting resources across the Western United States.

At least 390 square miles, or 1,000 square kilometers, have burned across Washington.

Authorities also warned the public against flying drones near the fire zones because unauthorized aircraft could interrupt or delay aerial firefighting operations.

Families Describe Devastating Losses

Angela and Wayde Deatherage, both 49, evacuated with their son shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday.

They took several containers of family photographs and heirloom rings but left most of their belongings behind.

About 30 minutes later, their security camera began sending fire alerts to Angela Deatherage’s phone.

Her husband returned using back roads and stopped at the end of their street before calling her.

Wayde Deatherage then positioned a hose at another property so it would continue spraying water. That house survived.

The couple returned Sunday to the property where they had lived for almost 22 years.

Survivors Confront Scale of Destruction

Karen Faggioli, 61, initially believed she would return to her home because firefighters had brought other recent blazes under control.

A relative later informed her that the fire had destroyed her home and three vehicles. Her daughter also lost a nearby house.

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