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Old Trails arson arrest
Authorities arrested Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, in connection with the Old Trails Fire near Spokane, Washington, and booked him on suspicion of first-degree arson after the blaze destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes.
“A man charged with intentionally setting awildfirethat’s destroyed hundreds of buildings”
The Associated Press reported that court documents show Farinacci denied setting the fire, and that his bond was set at $1 million.
NewsNation said Farinacci was due in court Tuesday and described the investigation as starting Aug. 1 after a witness told police they saw a man crouched down in the grass around noon, “looking nervous,” before smoke appeared from that spot.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said Farinacci was arrested at his residence without incident and booked into the Spokane County Jail on a first-degree arson charge, and Sheriff John Nowels said the suspect was being held in lieu of $1 million bond.
NPR reported that the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office arrested Farinacci at his home without incident and said he was being charged with arson in the first degree, with the suspect’s home also searched.
Witnesses, evidence, court
Multiple outlets tied the arrest to a roadside witness account, with the Santa Clarita Valley Signal saying a witness saw Farinacci “looked very nervous” as he stood up and walked away before smoke was noticed from the area.
The Santa Clarita Valley Signal also quoted Sheriff John Nowels saying major crimes detectives were able to identify Farinacci, develop probable cause to arrest him, and determine that the fire’s origin “was indeed exactly where the witnesses had seen Mr. Farinacci kneeling in the grass earlier that day.”
PBS reported that an affidavit said Farinacci denied under questioning by sheriff's deputies that he set the fire and said he had matches and a lighter on him when he was detained because he smokes.
CNN said Farinacci appeared in Spokane County Superior Court via video link from jail on Tuesday afternoon, was charged with first-degree arson, and had bond set at $1 million.
NPR reported that Sheriff John Nowels said a tip from a citizen who reported seeing a man “bending down near some grass” led investigators to detain a suspect early in the investigation before Farinacci was arrested again later by major crimes detectives.
Evacuations and next steps
While investigators pursued the arson case, authorities said the wildfires around Spokane had displaced about 65,000 people, destroyed some 700 buildings, and burned through 7,000 acres of land, with no reports of deaths or injuries so far.
“it was too early to say when people might be able to return home.”
BBC said Washington Governor Bob Ferguson called it a “nightmare situation” and quoted the mayor, Lisa Brown, warning there was still “the potential for lives to be lost” and that it was too early to say when people might be able to return home.
NPR said those evacuated were seeking refuge at the Spokane Convention Center at a Red Cross shelter, and it quoted Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown describing the city of 230,000 people facing “an unprecedented situation.”
CNN reported that as of Tuesday morning the Old Trails Fire, the Autumn Lane Fire and the Fairview Fire had scorched more than 10,000 acres and remained uncontained, and it said 14 people had not been reachable before all 14 were contacted by midday Tuesday.
The Washington Post said authorities made an arrest in connection with the Old Trails Fire, and it described Farinacci as being charged with first-degree arson as firefighters continued working to contain flames consuming parts of the region.
