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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

2 clusters · 14 sources · 15 days · First seen 16 days ago · Last updated 1 day ago

Categories: CRIME

US wildfire arson arrests

Entities: Aaron Farinacci · Spokane County Sheriff's Office · Spokane, Washington · John Nowels · Old Trails Fire

Overview

In July 2026, Utah authorities arrested Conrad Jared Larsen on suspicion of second‑degree felony arson after a campfire he allegedly intensified ignited the two‑acre Timp Fire in American Fork Canyon. The blaze prompted evacuations and temporary site closures, with damage costs exceeding $5,000. Larsen, who previously was convicted of arson in 2017 near the same area, was booked on July 15 and remains pending trial.

A few weeks later, in early August 2026, Spokane law enforcement detained Aaron F. Farinacci, charging him with first‑degree arson for allegedly starting the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three wildfires burning around Spokane, Washington. The fire had scorched roughly 7,000 acres, destroyed about 700 structures and forced around 67,000 residents to evacuate. Farinacci was identified by a community member near the fire’s origin and was found carrying waterproof matches and a butane lighter. He was booked on a $1 million bond and faces a court appearance the following week.

Further investigation confirmed that a citizen tip led Sheriff John Nowels and major‑crimes detectives to Farinacci after a witness saw him kneeling near grass at the fire’s origin. Police recovered waterproof matches and a butane lighter, and noted his prior felony manslaughter conviction in Arizona. He was booked on a $1 million bond and scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. No deaths have been reported, and the Old Trails Fire remains uncontained while evacuation shelters continue operating.

Both cases illustrate a pattern of individual suspects being apprehended for deliberately igniting wildfires across different U.S. states, each facing serious arson charges and prior criminal histories while the respective fires caused significant property loss and displacement.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 8 SOURCES] Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested on August 3 2026 and charged with first‑degree arson for the Old Trails Fire. (new)
[● 8 SOURCES] He was booked on a $1 million bond. (new)
[● 8 SOURCES] The Old Trails Fire is the largest of three wildfires near Spokane, Washington, burning about 7,000 acres. (new)
[● 8 SOURCES] The wildfires have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 65,000‑67,000 evacuations. (new)
[● 8 SOURCES] A citizen tip led police to Farinacci, who was found with matches and a butane lighter. (new)
[● 8 SOURCES] Farinacci has a prior felony manslaughter conviction in Arizona. (new)
[● 8 SOURCES] Farinacci's first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday after his arrest. (new)

Timeline

1 day ago

[CRIME] 14 sources
Aaron Farinacci arrested for arson in Spokane's Old Trails wildfire
Aaron Farinacci was arrested and charged with first‑degree arson for the Old Trails Fire near Spokane, WA; he faces a $1 million bond, has a prior manslaughter conviction, and the blaze has destroyed 700+ homes
16 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Utah Man Arrested for Arson in American Fork Canyon Timp Fire
A West Jordan man, Conrad Jared Larsen, was arrested on July 15 for alleged arson in the two‑acre Timp Fire that forced evacuations in American Fork Canyon; damage exceeds $5,000, no injuries reported.

Sources

archyworldys.com · boisestatepublicradio.org · dimokratianews.gr · iefimerida.gr · independent.co.uk · kesq.com · kstp.com · legalinsurrection.com · memesita.com · myjoyonline.com · thecsrjournal.in · thesheffieldpress.com · time.news · whec.com

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history