Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old Spokane resident with a previous manslaughter conviction, was arrested on Monday for allegedly starting the largest of three major wildfires in the region through first-degree arson. The Old Trails Fire, which started around 10 a.m. Saturday, has destroyed hundreds of structures and displaced thousands of people, with an estimated 700 structures lost and 67,000 evacuees. A witness reported seeing Farinacci near the fire's origin shortly before it started, and police later found waterproof matches and a butane lighter on him. Farinacci is being held on $1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old man from Spokane, Washington, has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of three devastating wildfires burning around Spokane. The fires have forced over 67,000 people to evacuate and destroyed at least 700 buildings. Authorities believe Farinacci started the fire by using matches or a lighter, which he was found to be in possession of when detained. He is being held on a $1 million bond. The wildfires, fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation, have spread rapidly through residential neighborhoods, with some residents returning to find their homes levelled by the blaze.
Written for “Washington State Wildfires” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's neutral framing of the suspect's previous conviction for manslaughter and his past questioning about 'arson-related behavior' suggests a cautious approach, while the use of words like 'allegation of first-degree arson' and 'witness reported seeing a man near the fire' indicates a commitment to presenting multiple perspectives.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score -0.40 for article 395 · logged 2026-08-04
A 37-year-old Spokane, Washington, resident with a previous manslaughter conviction was arrested Monday in connection with the largest of the region’s three wildfires, which have displaced thousands of people and destroyed hundreds of structures, authorities said.
asserted
authorities → arrest → structures
Aaron Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody without incident with the help of a SWAT team after a judge signed a warrant based on an allegation of first-degree arson, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said at an evening news conference.
asserted
Nowels → take → conference
Farinacci was being held on $1 million bond, he said.
asserted
he → hold → bond
It was unclear whether he has been formally charged or has a lawyer, and the Spokane County public defender’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday night.
uncertain
office → charge → comment
Farinacci was arrested after police said a witness reported seeing a man near the Old Trails Fire shortly before it started around 10 a.m. Saturday, Nowels said.
asserted
Nowels → arrest → 10
The witness told police the man was looking into the trees and was later seen crouching at the side of a road near some grass, before he “stood up and looked very nervous” and walked away, Nowels said.
asserted
Nowels → tell → grass
Deputies detained Farinacci the same day about a half-mile from where the fire started and questioned him, but he was ultimately released, Nowels said.
asserted
Nowels → detain → him
He had waterproof matches and a butane lighter, which could have been used to spark the fires, Nowels said.
uncertain
Nowels → have → fires
On Sunday, major crimes detectives were able to link the suspect to the fire “and determined that the origin of the fire was indeed exactly where the witnesses had seen Mr. Farinacci kneeling in the grass,” Nowels said.
asserted
Nowels → link → grass
Farinacci was known to walk in the area before and had been questioned about “arson-related behavior” in the past, though he was never arrested or convicted for that, Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Preston McCollam said.
asserted
McCollam → know → that
Farinacci has a criminal record in Arizona, McCollam said, including a conviction for manslaughter.
asserted
McCollam → have → manslaughter
Public records indicate he was convicted of manslaughter in 2012 for a killing in Maricopa County in 2010.
asserted
he → indicate → 2010
At 3,619 acres, the Old Trails Fire is the largest of three major blazes burning in the Spokane region.
asserted
Fire → burn → region
The fires have taken out an estimated 700 structures and caused the evacuations of 67,000 people in the Spokane area, federal incident commander Tom Clemo said Monday.
asserted
Clemo → take → area
They have collectively burned through more than 8,000 acres and were 0% contained Monday night.
asserted
They → burn → acres
Nowels said there is no evidence connecting Farinacci to the other two major blazes in the region.
asserted
Nowels → say → region
He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, McCollam said.
asserted
McCollam → schedule → court
