Arson Suspect Busted Amid Massive Spokane Wildfires

Sun Sep 06 2026 14:15:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 37‑year‑old man is arrested for allegedly starting the biggest wildfire in Spokane as 60,000 residents flee the flames.

Firefighters are still battling the largest blaze to hit Spokane, Washington, after more than 60,000 people were ordered to evacuate. The town’s sheriff arrested Aaron Farinacci, 37, as suspected arsonist after evidence of matches and a lighter was found near the Old Trails fire. With over 700 buildings already destroyed and thousands of acres scorched, authorities have called for a statewide ban on outdoor fires and are working to locate and aid residents still out of reach by phone.

Arson Suspect Busted Amid Massive Spokane Wildfires

A 37‑year‑old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after the largest wildfire in Spokane, Washington, demanded mass evacuations.

The fire, linked to the Old Trails blaze, consumed more than 700 homes, businesses, and acres of forest. Sheriff John Nowels said investigators found matches and a lighter near the blaze, linking the suspect, Aaron Farinacci, to the crime.

Farinacci, who faces a first‑degree arson charge and a $1 million bond, reportedly had a previous manslaughter conviction. Authorities are keeping an eye on worsening conditions as weather experts warn of rising temperatures and stronger winds.

The Washington governor has imposed a statewide ban on outdoor fires, citing the limited capacity of the more than 900 firefighters already battling blazes across the state. The ban aims to prevent even the smallest spark from igniting another disaster.

While the city’s mayor, Lisa Brown, stresses that lives could still be lost, there have been no confirmed injuries as of now. Efforts continue to locate 14 residents whose phones remain unreachable, though they are not yet marked missing.

Citizens and community leaders are rallying to support those displaced—some, like Joe Cvancara, are offering their homes to neighbors, yet recognizing rebuilding will take years.

With the fire over, the city faces a long recovery path amid a statewide effort to curb wildfire risks in the face of climate change’s dry, hot conditions.