{"id":41053,"date":"2026-08-12T15:15:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T10:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41053"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:15:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T10:15:29","slug":"aaron-forrest-farinacci-accused-of-setting-old-trails-fire-in-spokane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=41053","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Forrest Farinacci accused of setting Old Trails Fire in Spokane"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Paul Child drove past a stranger twice near railroad tracks outside his <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541757\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/disasters\/wildfire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washington home<\/a>, then watched smoke rise about 10 minutes after the man crouched in nearby bushes \u2013 setting off a chain of events that helped police identify an accused wildfire arsonist.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Newly obtained bodycam footage shows officers evacuating Child\u2019s family and taking him, his grandson and the boy\u2019s friend to a field showup after detaining a man who matched their description.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">While Child and the other witnesses waited near the showup scene, bodycam footage captured an officer saying the detained man had &#8220;a whole fanny pack full of matches.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The video does not show the alleged matches or establish how they were recovered.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541758\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/mystery-stranger-vanishes-after-family-says-frantic-warning-saved-lives-during-devastating-house-fire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>MYSTERY STRANGER VANISHES AFTER FAMILY SAYS FRANTIC WARNING SAVED THEIR LIVES DURING DEVASTATING HOUSE FIRE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Washington-Arson-Suspect-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Aaron F. Farinacci, who was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire in Washington.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire in eastern Washington.<\/span> <span>(Arizona Department of Corrections)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Child said he and the other witnesses \u2013 his grandson and his grandson\u2019s friend \u2013 were not told about the alleged matches or other items before they were asked to view the detained man.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We thought he had a backpack,&#8221; Child told Fox News Digital. &#8220;They didn\u2019t say anything to us anyway about the fanny pack with matches, cigarettes [and] I guess lighter in it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541759\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/canadian-wildfire-smoke-ignites-cross-border-feud-over-ottawas-willful-negligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE IGNITES CROSS-BORDER FEUD OVER OTTAWA&#8217;S &#8216;WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE&#8217;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Child told Fox News Digital that he, his grandson and the grandson\u2019s friend spotted a man twice near railroad tracks close to the apparent fire origin. The second time, Child said, the man\u2019s behavior appeared unusual.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-002.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Paul Child stands beside a white pickup truck on a rural road in Airway Heights, Washington, in police body-camera footage.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Wildfire witness Paul Child speaks with an Airway Heights officer near his pickup truck as authorities respond to the Old Trails Fire on Aug. 1, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Airway Heights Police Department)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;He was kind of bent over and looked like he was doing something in the bushes,&#8221; Child said. &#8220;He got up, saw us. When he saw us, he turned to face us and kind of was pacing back and forth nervously.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Child said there was no smoke when the group last saw the man. Within about 10 minutes of returning home, however, he said smoke began rising about a half-mile away.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541760\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FoxTrueCrime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Bodycam footage from the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541761\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/crime\/police-and-law-enforcement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Airway Heights Police Department<\/a> shows smoke billowing in the distance as Officer Pace speaks with Child\u2019s family about evacuating. The officer later tells them police may have detained &#8220;your guy&#8221; and that they could be asked to take part in a showup.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-003.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Thick smoke rises beyond farm equipment, a trailer and a small shed in a dry rural area.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Airway Heights police body-camera footage shows smoke from the Old Trails Fire near a rural property on Aug. 1, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Airway Heights Police Department)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">A field showup is an in-person identification procedure in which witnesses view a person detained shortly after an incident.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">While the footage does not show the identification, Child said Pace escorted him and the two boys to a location about a mile and a half from his home.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We pulled off to the side of the road and they got an individual out from the back of the \u2026 Spokane County deputy car,&#8221; Child said. &#8220;We looked at him, and all three of us gave them [a] positive, 100% positive ID that\u2019s who we\u2019d seen in the area just before the fire started.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Child said he and the two teen witnesses positively identified the detained man during the field showup. Authorities later identified the man as Aaron Forrest Farinacci.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541762\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/spokane-fire-survivor-finds-joy-jesus-alleged-arson-destroys-home-belongings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>SPOKANE FIRE SURVIVOR FINDS &#8216;JOY&#8217; THROUGH JESUS AFTER ALLEGED ARSON DESTROYS HOME AND BELONGINGS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Airway Heights police body-camera view of thick smoke rising behind a dry field, trailer and parked vehicle.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Smoke billows near a rural property outside Airway Heights, Washington, as an officer responds to the Old Trails Fire on Aug. 1, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Airway Heights Police Department)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The Aug. 1 field showup did not immediately lead to charges. Farinacci was released after the witnesses identified the detained man, then was arrested on charges two days later, on Aug. 3.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Child said he did not initially realize Farinacci had been released.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-004.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Paul Child looks out near wooded area near his home in Spokane, Washington\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Paul Child, a witness who reported the arson suspect arrested for the Old Trails Fire, looks out near a wooded area sprayed with fire retardant at his home in Spokane, Wash., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Lindsey Wasson \/ AP Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I was like, well, thank God, because \u2026 I thought they had him detained the whole time. I didn\u2019t realize they didn\u2019t have probable cause to hold him for a couple days. \u2026 He could walk right back up that road,&#8221; Child said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541763\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/spokane-wildfire-smoke-park-washington.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Towering smoke from a fast-moving wildfire rises behind a park in the Spokane area as firefighters battle multiple blazes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Heavy smoke blankets the Spokane area as firefighters battle several fast-moving wildfires that have forced thousands of evacuations and prompted a massive emergency response.<\/span> <span>(Spokane Valley Fire Department)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Farinacci is accused of starting the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541764\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/spokane-fire-survivor-finds-joy-jesus-alleged-arson-destroys-home-belongings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Old Trails Fire<\/a>, one of three blazes that have burned across Spokane and Stevens counties since Aug. 1. The Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lane fires had burned a combined 10,002 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 920 structures, Spokane fire officials reported Monday.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541765\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/palisades-fire-suspect-allegedly-driven-societal-revenge-behavioral-analyst-testifies-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY DRIVEN BY &#8216;SOCIETAL REVENGE,&#8217; BEHAVIORAL ANALYST TESTIFIES IN COURT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Farinacci, who was initially held on $1 million bail, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541766\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/crime\/trials\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">appeared in court<\/a> Thursday, when a judge doubled his bail to $2 million. He also faces four additional <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541767\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/entertainment\/genres\/crime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">arson charges<\/a> after court documents alleged he admitted to setting 25 fires in the area since 2025.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital allege Farinacci monitored weather apps to identify ideal fire conditions and built a delayed ignition device to start the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541768\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/spokane-fire-survivor-finds-joy-jesus-alleged-arson-destroys-home-belongings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Old Trails Fire<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541769\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/true-crime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>LIKE WHAT YOU&#8217;RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-006.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"A firefighter in yellow protective gear sprays water on flames burning through a wooded area.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A firefighter battles flames during the Old Trails Fire in Spokane, Washington.<\/span> <span>(City of Spokane, Facebook)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Although Farinacci initially denied involvement in the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541770\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/spokane-fire-survivor-finds-joy-jesus-alleged-arson-destroys-home-belongings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Old Trails Fire<\/a> during questioning after his Aug. 3 arrest, court documents allege he later confessed to planning and setting the blaze. The documents say he planned the fire for two weeks.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Investigators allege Farinacci built a time-delay device from paper, matches, cigarettes and rubber bands modeled after one used by serial arsonist John Leonard Orr. Court documents also allege he deliberately set simultaneous fires at other times to distract and thin out emergency response crews.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541771\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>SEND US A TIP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">As the wildfire spread, Child\u2019s family gathered pets and belongings before evacuating their home.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/Spokane-Fire-Damage-001.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Firefighter extinguishing hotspots in Spokane, Washington.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A Moses Lake Fire Department firefighter works to extinguish hotspots at a home destroyed in the Old Trails Fire on Aug. 5, 2026, in Spokane, Washington.<\/span> <span>(Mario Tama\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It was pretty chaotic,&#8221; Child said. &#8220;I forgot my medications. We forgot leashes for the dogs or dog food and all that stuff.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541772\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>GOT A TIP?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Child said the flames came no closer than about a quarter-mile from his home, but he feared a shift in the wind could have sent the fast-moving fire toward his property within minutes.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541773\" href=\"https:\/\/link.podtrac.com\/cjdr_fnd_article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>LISTEN TO THE NEW &#8216;CRIME &amp; JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO&#8217; PODCAST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Looking back, Child said he sees his decision to alert police as only one part of the response.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_2541774\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I\u2019m sorry I wasn\u2019t able to stop him from doing what he did,&#8221; Child said, adding that he believes he played only a small part in the man being caught. &#8220;It was kind of like, well, good. At least he\u2019s off the street.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I mean, he wasn\u2019t going to stop,&#8221; Child added. &#8220;Fortunately, he didn\u2019t kill anybody this time, but I imagine his luck on that was going to run out if he continued to set fires.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><i>Fox News Digital\u2019s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Greg Wehner is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering U.S. news and crime, with a focus on breaking developments, law enforcement, public safety and major stories shaping communities across the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Paul Child drove past a stranger twice near railroad tracks outside his Washington home, then watched smoke rise about 10 minutes after the man crouched in nearby bushes \u2013 setting off a chain of events that helped police identify an accused wildfire arsonist. Newly obtained bodycam footage&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41054,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Washington-Witness-First-Hand-008.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41053"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41053\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}