Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested on Monday in connection with a major wildfire in Washington state, US, according to authorities. He faces a first-degree arson charge related to the Old Trails Fire in the Spokane area, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office stated that Farinacci was taken into custody after sheriff's detectives and Washington Department of Natural Resources investigators developed probable cause. The office also said citizen tips and information from Airway Heights police officers and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies helped lead investigators to him.
A witness reported seeing Farinacci kneeling near the ignition site of the fire, according to authorities. They described him as a convicted felon from Arizona, US, but said they had found no documented criminal history involving fires.
The Old Trails Fire was first reported on Saturday near North Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road, officials said. It became the largest of three destructive fires burning around Spokane and remained uncontained on Monday, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Old Trails Fire destroyed hundreds of structures, according to authorities.
Officials stated that the fire forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate the Spokane area. Investigators have not connected Farinacci to two other major blazes in the area, the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, according to authorities.
Farinacci was booked into the Spokane County Jail and was being held on a $1 million bond, according to officials.
