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Aaron Farinacci arrested for suspected arson in Spokane area wildfires
Aaron Farinacci has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire in eastern Washington. The fire has destroyed nearly 700 homes and burned over 3,000 acres. Combined fires in the Spokane area have impacted more than 10,000 acres and 900 structures, though no deaths or serious injuries have been reported.
Investigators identified Farinacci following reports from witnesses, including Paul Child, who observed a man acting suspiciously near railroad tracks shortly before smoke was detected. Bodycam footage indicates that authorities detained a man matching the description with a fanny pack allegedly containing matches, cigarettes, and a lighter.
Court records reveal that Farinacci has a criminal history in Arizona, where he served 10 years for manslaughter and aggravated assault after killing his father and holding his mother at gunpoint in 2010. Additionally, Farinacci has reportedly confessed to starting more than two dozen fires in the Spokane area over the past year.
Entities
Aaron Farinacci · Airway Heights Police Department · Old Trails Fire · Paul Child · Spokane
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Farinacci confessed to starting more than two dozen fires in the Spokane area over the past year. thequake1021.com · newstalkkit.com
- [DISPUTED] Combined fires in the Spokane area have burned over 10,000 acres and 900 structures. thequake1021.com · newstalkkit.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The detained man allegedly possessed a fanny pack containing matches, cigarettes, and a lighter. internewscast.com · nytimespost.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] A witness observed a man acting suspiciously near railroad tracks shortly before smoke was seen. internewscast.com · nytimespost.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Farinacci served 10 years in prison for manslaughter and aggravated assault before being released in 2020. thequake1021.com · newstalkkit.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Aaron Farinacci was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire. internewscast.com · nytimespost.com · thequake1021.com · newstalkkit.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] In 2010, Farinacci killed his father and held his mother at gunpoint. thequake1021.com · newstalkkit.com
- [DISPUTED] The Old Trails Fire destroyed nearly 700 homes and burned more than 3,000 acres. thequake1021.com · newstalkkit.com