Spokane wildfire arson suspect waited for dry, windy day to start blaze, police say
Aaron Farinacci is accused of setting the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three burning around the city that have destroyed hundreds of buildings.
**Spokane Wildfire Arson Suspect Allegedly Waited for Optimal Conditions, Claimed Responsibility for Dozens of Blazes**
Newly unsealed court documents reveal that the man apprehended in connection with a major wildfire in Spokane, Washington, informed investigators he deliberately chose a hot, dry, and windy day to ignite the inferno. Aaron Farinacci, 37, is also accused of admitting to setting 25 additional fires in the vicinity over the past year.
During his second court appearance on Thursday, a county judge increased Farinacci's bond to $2 million (£1.6 million) and ordered a mental competency evaluation. He did not enter a plea.
The Spokane fire stands as the largest of three currently burning near the second-most populous city in the northwestern US state. It has necessitated the evacuation of over 60,000 individuals and resulted in the destruction of more than 700 structures. Nearly a quarter of Spokane's population was forced to flee as the wildfires swept through the city's outskirts over the weekend.
While no fatalities or injuries have been confirmed, authorities are attempting to contact 14 individuals they have been unable to reach via mobile phone, though these individuals are not yet classified as missing.
An affidavit released on Wednesday details investigators' testimony that Farinacci confessed in a police interview to planning the fire, known as the Old Trails Fire, two weeks in advance. The affidavit states, "He researched his weather app to predict a day that would have 'high winds, low humidity, sort of high heat.'" Detectives also suspect Farinacci researched a well-known arsonist to construct a "time-delay device" for igniting the blaze.
According to the affidavit, Farinacci had been struggling since the birth of his son in May 2025 and developed a fascination with fires and arsonists. He allegedly began setting fires in July 2025, igniting 25 by the following month. The affidavit quotes Farinacci as believing "fire is powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth." He reportedly acknowledged the blaze "was gonna get bad" but did not intend for it to reach its ultimate size.
In court on Thursday, Farinacci appeared visibly emotional, keeping his head down and rubbing his eyes as the judge set his bond and returned him to police custody.
The Spokane County Sheriff reported that Farinacci was allegedly observed kneeling near grass at the site of the recent blaze and was later found to possess matches and a lighter when he was arrested on Monday.
Many residents expressed shock, particularly upon learning that the suspect had previously been linked to two other fire investigations last year. Some told the BBC they lacked the emotional capacity for anger at the suspect, prioritizing their own psychological healing. Others found "closure" in the knowledge that the fire was intentional, rather than a freak accident or natural ignition that might have been attributed after a lengthy investigation.
Matt Kincanon, who lost his home in the Old Trails Fire, stated, "I hope that if it's proven that he did do this, I hope the punishment will fit the crime. Because what he allegedly did turned over the lives of so many people."