A man accused of starting a major wildfire that continued to burn in northeast Washington on Aug. 6 told investigators he had planned the fire for weeks before setting it earlier this month, according to court documents released in the case.
Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested Aug. 3 and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire that sparked Aug. 1 just northwest of Spokane, Washington, the state’s second-largest city. The blaze is among three significant wildfires that continued to burn around the region after destroying hundreds of homes and other structures and forcing tens of thousands of evacuations.
According to amended court papers filed by prosecutors Aug. 5, Spokane County Detective Michael Drapeau said Farinacci
provided additional details during a post-arrest interview about the Old Trails Fire and his alleged intent in setting it.
According to the amended court filings reviewed by USA TODAY, investigators said Farinacci also called arson an "easy crime to get away" with and told police he began planning the fire about two weeks before he set the blaze. He also allegedly told police he researched the weather to predict a day that would have conditions "ideal to start a fire," and that he fell and hurt his tailbone starting the fire.
When first questioned by authorities, Farinacci initially denied being in the area where the fire broke out.
But Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said a witness reported seeing a man, later identified as Farinacci, kneeling in the area where the fire started and looking "nervous." Authorities said they found him with matches and a lighter, though court documents say he denied starting the blaze.
Prosecutors: Farinacci told investigators he set 25 other fires
According to investigators, Farinacci was contacted by law enforcement on at least two previous occasions in 2025 in relation to several fires in the same region. He was also previously convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting his father in 2010 in Arizona.
According to the amended court filing, Farinacci told investigators he started 25 other fires in Spokane County that "threatened human lives, structures, woodland, and property."
Prosecutors are now seeking four additional arson charges based on Farinacci's reported admission. As of Aug. 6, a judge had not yet ruled whether probable cause existed to support those charges, and investigators said they were unable to corroborate Farinacci's involvement in the other fires.
But investigators, in court filings, said they were able to connect him to the following fires:
- The Aubrey White Fire broke out July 6, 2025.
- Brush fires on July 8, 2025, which forced evacuations at multiple homes. According to new information in court papers, investigators had questioned Farinacci at the scene of those fires, sitting on a rock.
- The Equestrian Fire broke out on Aug. 11, 2025. According to newly filed court documents, Farinacci was photographed at the scene sitting on a bench and appearing out of breath. Investigators said he was wearing the same shirt seen in images from the Old Trails Fire.
- The Indian Bluff Fire, which began on July 24, 2026.
Court records show Farinacci was appointed a public defender. USA TODAY reached out to Farinacci's attorney for comment.
Arson suspect's arraignment postponed
Farinacci's Aug. 6 arraignment on a first-degree felony arson charge was delayed while Spokane County Superior Court Judge Jeremy T. Schmidt determined whether he should undergo a competency evaluation before entering a plea. Schmidt said he would review the new information in the case over the next day to determine whether there is sufficient cause to order a competency evaluation.
If approved, Farinacci's next hearing will focus on whether he is competent to stand trial.
At prosecutors' request, Schmidt on Aug. 6 increased Farinacci's bond to $2 million from $1 million.
"The court does find that there is a significant risk to community safety as well as the potential for a violent offense and future failure to appear," Schmidt said.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spokane wildfire suspect planned blaze for weeks, court documents say
