Full story
Weeks of planning
Aaron Farinacci, 37, confessed to detectives that he planned the Old Trails Fire two weeks in advance, according to court records described by The Spokesman-Review and BBC court documents.
“He feels fire is powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth”
Spokane County sheriff’s Detective Mike Drapeau wrote that Farinacci said, “He feels fire is powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth,” and investigators said Farinacci researched a day with “high winds, low humidity, sort of high heat.”
Farinacci was arrested Monday evening on suspicion of first-degree arson, and a county judge increased his bond to $2 million while adding four additional counts of first-degree arson, as described in court proceedings reported by The Spokesman-Review and BBC.
Investigators said Farinacci admitted responsibility for 25 fires, with detectives corroborating four, including the Aubrey White fire that burned 41 acres on July 6, 2025, and the BBC reported the Old Trails Fire forced more than 60,000 people to evacuate and destroyed more than 700 buildings.
The BBC also reported that no deaths or injuries have been confirmed, while authorities sought to make contact with 14 people they had been unable to reach by mobile phone.
Court, confession, and bond
In court on Thursday, Spokane County Superior Court Judge Jeremy Schmidt increased the suspected arsonist’s bond to $2 million and signed off on a competency evaluation, after prosecutors asked Schmidt to double Farinacci’s bond “given the gravity of these charges,” according to The Spokesman-Review.
The BBC reported that no plea was entered and that a mental competency evaluation was ordered, while it also described Farinacci as appearing emotional and keeping his head down as the judge set bond and remanded him back into police custody.
Investigators said Farinacci told them he researched a well-known arsonist and created a “time-delay device” for igniting the fire, using notebook paper, matches, a cigarette and a rubber band, as described in BBC and other court filings.
The Spokesman-Review reported that Farinacci ultimately confessed to starting 25 fires near his apartment complex near the Spokane River, north of the West Central Neighborhood, though detectives corroborated four.
The BBC added that Farinacci was allegedly seen kneeling near grass at the site of the latest blaze and was later found to have matches and a lighter when arrested on Monday.
Evacuations and next steps
The Old Trails Fire, along with two other fires in the Spokane area, has burned more than 850 buildings and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, and the BBC reported that nearly a quarter of the Spokane population was forced to evacuate as the wildfires swept through the outskirts of the city.
“may be further amended as the full extent of the defendant’s criminal acts becomes known”
Authorities said the criminal charges “may be further amended as the full extent of the defendant’s criminal acts becomes known,” while CNN reported Farinacci was charged with a total of five counts of first-degree arson including one count in connection with the Old Trails Fire.
CNN also reported that prosecutors said Farinacci’s confession that he started four different fires means the case qualifies as serial arson, and it cited the US Department of Justice definition as an offense by those who set three or more fires with a long period of time between them.
The Spokesman-Review reported that Farinacci’s defense attorney Colin Charbonneau reserved argument on probable cause, bond and release conditions and requested a competency evaluation, with a stay hearing scheduled for Sept. 4 when Superior Court Judge Andrew Van Winkle put the case on hold.
As the legal process moves forward, the BBC reported that authorities were trying to make contact with 14 people they had been unable to reach by mobile phone, while also stating that no deaths or injuries have been confirmed.
