UPDATE: August 3 at 10:05 p.m.
Aaron Forrest Farinacci, the arson suspect in one of the Spokane area fires (Old Trails Fire), was originally charged with first degree murder in the 2010 killing of his father in Maricopa County, Arizona but that charge was dismissed following a grand jury indictment.
By 2012, Farinacci pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault as charged.
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Old Trails Fire was determined to have been intentionally set and Sheriff Nowels announced a man has been arrested.
Monday afternoon, 37-year-old, Aaron Farinacci, was arrested in Spokane. Farinacci has prior criminal convictions and is being held $1 million bond, the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators said a witness reported to Airway Heights Police that they saw a man looking into the trees before seeing smoke in the area.
Resources were put towards evacuating residents and protecting structures, however, investigators said the man was found less than a mile away from the fire.
DNR and Spokane County Major Crimes worked together to determine the fire origin.
Farinacci reportedly had waterproof matches and a butane lighter on him when he was arrested, the sheriff’s office added.
The investigation is still ongoing and other charges may be brought up.
Anyone who may have additional information is asked to report it to police.
Farinacci is expected to make his first court appearance on August 3.