How a grandfather’s quick thinking led fire investigators to a Spokane arson suspect

Grandfather’s Observations Help Pinpoint Spokane Arson Suspect

Qwenews.com – Aaron Farinacci, 37, faces first-degree arson charges after law enforcement linked him to the Old Trails Fire, which sparked the first of three devastating blazes sweeping through the Spokane region. The suspect was taken into custody Tuesday and appeared before Spokane County Superior Court via video connection from jail while firefighters continue battling the uncontained fires. His bond has been established at $1 million, with an arraignment set for Thursday.

A Witness on the Road

Paul Child was traveling through a rural area near Spokane with his grandson on Saturday when he noticed a man walking back and forth along the roadside. The stranger glanced at their vehicle as they drove past, but Child barely registered the encounter. Fifteen minutes later, after collecting his grandson’s friend, the trio headed toward Child’s residence and spotted that same individual in the identical location. This time, however, the man was crouched near some bushes and appeared visibly uneasy.

Only after returning home did Child connect the dots. His daughter phoned to report a fire, and when Child stepped outside, he observed a column of smoke rising from precisely the spot where he had seen the man. That observation proved crucial in helping authorities identify Farinacci as a person of interest.

Building the Case

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels confirmed that the fire’s origin matched the witness’s description perfectly. “Indeed exactly where the witness had seen Mr. Farinacci kneeling in the grass,” Nowels stated. A fire investigator concluded that the blaze was consistent with an open flame igniting vegetation—exactly what one would expect from a lighter or match.

During an initial detention, officers discovered that Farinacci carried waterproof matches and a butane lighter. According to the court affidavit, he denied both starting the fire and being present near the flames, claiming he was simply walking along a route he uses nearly every day. Deputies noted at the time that they lacked complete information about the incident’s origin point.

Investigators later utilized body-worn camera footage from their encounters with Farinacci to secure an arrest warrant on Monday. He was apprehended “without incident,” and detectives simultaneously obtained a search warrant for his home.

Community Impact and History

The three wildfires have consumed more than 10,000 acres, forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, and destroyed hundreds of homes since Saturday. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson expressed the added heartbreak of an intentional fire.

“It takes a tragic situation and just makes it more heartbreaking,” Ferguson told CNN. “… To think that much of this damage could have been caused by an individual doing this on purpose.”

Child’s property escaped the flames, and he and his family have since returned home. He recalled calling 911 immediately upon seeing smoke while simultaneously alerting nearby neighbors. He also flagged down a passing police officer and fire department personnel, providing them with a description of the man. Within half an hour, that same officer informed Child that law enforcement had detained someone matching the description. Child, his grandson, and the grandson’s friend then accompanied authorities and verified the suspect was indeed the man they had observed earlier.

This is not Farinacci’s first brush with wildfire-related scrutiny. According to a probable cause affidavit, law enforcement contacted him last summer regarding two additional fires, including one described as “suspicious” that started near his residence. He was neither arrested nor charged in those incidents. Farinacci also has a violent past—he previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault against his father and remained incarcerated until 2020.

CNN has been unable to locate contact details for Farinacci’s legal representative.