A neighbor’s double take helped police identify an accused wildfire arsonist in Washington as flames raced nearby. Paul Child drove past a stranger twice near railroad tracks outside his home, then watched smoke rise about 10 minutes after the man crouched in nearby bushes.
Investigation and Arrest
Bodycam footage shows officers evacuating Child’s family and taking him, his grandson, and the boy’s friend to a field showup after detaining a man who matched their description. The detained man, Aaron Forrest Farinacci, was found with a fanny pack full of matches and later confessed to planning and setting the Old Trails Fire.
Farinacci is accused of starting the Old Trails Fire, 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.
Farinacci faces four additional arson charges after court documents alleged he admitted to setting 25 fires in the area since 2025. He is being held on $2 million bail.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
