Arson suspect arrested as Spokane wildfires destroy hundreds of homes

Officials arrested Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, of Spokane, on Monday on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of the blazes that swept through the Spokane area. The arrest came after fires tore through neighborhoods and destroyed hundreds of homes and other structures, yet no fatalities had been reported.

The Old Trails Fire began around noon Saturday, Aug. 1, and spread rapidly under extreme fire-weather conditions into residential areas. By Aug. 2 and Aug. 3, at least 600 damaged or destroyed structures had been tallied across the Spokane-area fires. Later figures put the toll at about 700 buildings.

Nearly 65,000 people were evacuated from Spokane County, while Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said nearly half of the city’s neighborhoods had either been evacuated or were at risk as the fires remained uncontained. The city of Spokane, Spokane County and state agencies mounted a large-scale response as crews tried to protect neighborhoods in and around the state’s second-largest city.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency and imposed a burn ban as drought, strong winds and fast-moving flames drove the crisis. Ferguson visited Spokane on Sunday to meet first responders and monitor what he called an “unprecedented catastrophe.” The emergency declaration put state resources behind firefighting as evacuations spread across the West Plains, Airway Heights, North Spokane and other parts of the region.

Officials were still assessing the damage across the Old Trails Fire area and surrounding neighborhoods, including parts near Riverside State Park. The suspected arson arrest added a criminal investigation to the fire emergency.