A man accused of igniting the destructive Old Trails Fire in Spokane County, Washington, has had his bail doubled to $2 million. Prosecutors presented four additional arson charges and claimed the suspect admitted to setting 25 fires in the area since 2025.
Court documents reveal Aaron Forrest Farinacci, 37, allegedly confessed to using weather apps to find favorable conditions and checked weather details while making a delayed ignition device for the Old Trails Fire.
During a recent court appearance, Judge Jeremy Schmidt identified probable cause to charge Farinacci with four more first-degree arson counts tied to fires supposedly set since last summer.
Farinacci reportedly denied involvement in the Old Trails Fire during a 90-minute interrogation after his August 3 arrest but later admitted to planning and setting the blaze.
Authorities also linked Farinacci to other fires including the Aubrey White, Copper River/Meenach, Fort George, and Indian Bluff blazes.
In court, Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam pushed for a higher bond, stating, “I am asking the court to increase bail or bond in this amount to $2 million, given the gravity of these charges, given the addition of four separate arson counts.”
The judge agreed, confirming the increased bail amount was appropriate.
The arraignment was delayed as Farinacci’s defense sought a mental competency evaluation to decide if he is fit to stand trial.
The new charges arise amid the extensive destruction caused by the Old Trails Fire, which began on August 1. The fire scorched over 3,200 acres, destroyed around 700 homes and buildings, and led to the evacuation of over 60,000 residents.
Court documents also indicate Farinacci admitted to planning the Old Trails Fire for two weeks. He reportedly constructed a time-delay device using paper, matches, cigarettes, and rubber bands, similar to one used by serial arsonist John Leonard Orr.
The documents further allege Farinacci deliberately started multiple simultaneous fires to mislead and exhaust emergency response teams.
Background checks revealed Farinacci’s previous conviction for manslaughter for fatally shooting his father in Arizona in 2010. He served about a decade in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault in 2012.
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