Arson Arrest Made Over Largest Wildfire that Swallowed Spokane Neighborhoods

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:46:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Authorities have arrested a suspect for arson amid Spokane's sprawling wildfire, which forced over 60,000 residents to evacuate and left thousands of acres scorched.

Police in Spokane have arrested Aaron Farinacci on suspicion of arson after the Old Trails fire, the largest blaze that has rattled the city since the weekend. Farinacci was found with matches and a lighter at the fire site, and the arrest comes as more than 700 buildings are destroyed and thousands of acres burned. Governor Bob Ferguson called the situation a nightmare and warned it may be the worst disaster in the city’s history. Mayor Lisa Brown cautioned that lives could still be at risk and that it may be weeks before residents could return. The state has issued a statewide outdoor‑fire ban to curb further wildfires.

Arson arrest in the largest Spokane wildfire

Police arrested 37‑year‑old Aaron Farinacci on suspicion of arson in connection with the Old Trails fire, the largest blaze that has forced more than 60,000 residents to evacuate the city of Spokane.

Farinacci was seen kneeling near the grass at the fire’s edge and later law‑enforcement found matches and a lighter in his possession. The case adds to an ongoing wildfire crisis that has scorched thousands of acres and destroyed over 700 buildings.

State officials say the incident could set the record for the worst disaster in Spokane’s history. Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide outdoor‑fire ban, while Mayor Lisa Brown warned that there could still be potential for lives to be lost and that residents may not return home for weeks.

More than 900 firefighters have been deployed to fight the fire, with additional crews expected from other states. Scientists say that human‑induced climate change is making the dry, warm conditions that drive such wildfires more likely.