Aaron Farinacci killed his father in Arizona over an argument about doing the dishes.
Now that same convicted felon is accused of starting the worst wildfire in Washington state history.
Deputies questioned him the day of the fire – found matches and a lighter on him – and let him go.
The Man Behind the Match
In 2010, a 21-year-old Farinacci shot his father to death in Maricopa County after an argument about washing dishes.
Arizona charged him with first-degree murder.
He pleaded down to manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012 – and was free by 2020.
Then he moved to Spokane.
On August 1, a witness near Old Trails Road watched a man crouch near a grassy area, look nervous, and walk away before smoke began rising from the tree line.
That witness called the police.
https://twitter.com/mattvanswol/status/2084615976037789714?s=20
Deputies stopped Farinacci about a mile and a half from where the fire began, found waterproof matches and a butane lighter on him, questioned him, and released him.
By Monday, Major Crimes detectives had reviewed body-camera footage, confirmed the fire started at the spot where the witness had seen Farinacci kneeling in the grass, and obtained an arrest warrant.
Evidence at the scene showed the fire was started with matches or a lighter.
"We believe it was matches or a lighter. When he was detained … he was found to be in possession of some waterproof matches and a butane lighter," the sheriff said, before adding that Farinacci was only arrested in connection with the Old Trails Fire.
Washington's Worst Disaster Is Not a Natural One
The Old Trails Fire is the largest of three blazes now collectively known as the Spokane Complex Fire.
As of Monday, the fires had burned more than 8,000 acres combined, destroyed at least 700 structures, and forced 65,000 people from their homes.
"All of our memories are gone," Spokane resident Anna Andreachi, whose home was lost in the blaze, said. "My dad just died, and all of his stuff was still in there, too."
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown called it "the worst natural disaster our region has faced."
"It's a nightmare situation," he added.
Except it wasn't natural.
Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam confirmed that Farinacci had previously been questioned about "arson-related behavior" – and was still living freely in the community.
He was carrying fire-starting tools a mile and a half from the blaze.
Deputies sent him home – and 700 families found out what that decision cost them when they returned to their neighborhoods and found ash.
This Is What Soft Justice Costs
Eastern Washington has seen this pattern before.
Earlier this year, a serial arsonist named Zachary Vantuyl was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for deliberately setting multiple wildfires across the region in 2023 and 2024 – a convicted felon who authorities tracked through a documented pattern before he could burn anything else.
This case is different.
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This time, a man with a violent felony conviction and a documented history of suspected arson behavior was stopped on the day of the fire – carrying fire-starting tools, within a mile and a half of where it started – and released.
The result is 700 destroyed homes, 65,000 displaced families, and the most destructive wildfire in Washington state history.
Farinacci is now being held on a one million dollars bond.
The families of Spokane's north side don't have a court date.
They have ash where their homes used to be.
Sources:
- Spokane County Sheriff's Office, "Investigators Arrest Old Trails Fire Arson Suspect," Spokane County, WA, August 4, 2026.
- KREM2 Staff, "Man in Custody for Allegedly Starting Old Trails Fire," KREM, August 4, 2026.
- KHQ Staff, "Spokane Arson Suspect in Old Trails Fire Has Prior Manslaughter Conviction," KHQ, August 4, 2026.
- BNO News Staff, "Convicted Felon Arrested for Allegedly Starting Spokane Fire," BNO News, August 4, 2026.
- AP/AZFamily Staff, "Man Who Killed Father in Mesa Suspected of Starting Washington Wildfire," AZFamily, August 4, 2026.
- Pete Serrano, "Serial Arsonist Sentenced to 240 Months in Federal Prison," U.S. Department of Justice, May 13, 2026.