A Spokane County court saw bail for Aaron Forrest Farinacci soar to $2 million on Thursday, following prosecutors’ decision to add four more arson charges. Accused of instigating the catastrophic Old Trails Fire, Farinacci reportedly confessed to igniting 25 fires across the area since 2025.
Investigations reveal Farinacci, 37, admitted to using weather apps strategically to hunt for the perfect fire-starting conditions. He even reportedly detailed constructing a delayed ignition device to spark the Old Trails Fire, as court documents examined by News Media illustrate.
In a pivotal courtroom session, Judge Jeremy Schmidt concluded there was probable cause to tack on four first-degree arson charges against Farinacci, rooted in alleged fire outbreaks dating back to last summer.
The arrest affidavit provides insight into Farinacci’s initial denial of involvement during a 90-minute interrogation following his arrest on August 3. Nonetheless, he later admitted to orchestrating and executing the fire-setting plan.
Firefighters in action against a wildfire near Spokane, Washington, on August 2, 2026. (Credit: South Pend Oreille Fire Rescue/FOX Weather)
Detectives also said they corroborated evidence linking Farinacci to other blazes — the Aubrey White, Copper River/Meenach, Fort George and Indian Bluff fires.
In court, Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam asked for 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 Old Trails Fire destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Spokane, Wash., before investigators arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson. (AP Images ; Arizona Department of Corrections)
The judge agreed, noting, “The amount, as requested by prosecutor McCollam, is appropriate.”
The arraignment was also delayed Thursday after Farinacci’s defense requested a mental competency evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.
The expanded charges come amid widespread destruction caused by the Old Trails Fire, which started Aug. 1.
The blaze burned more than 3,200 acres, destroyed about 700 homes and other buildings and resulted the evacuation of more than 60,000 residents.
A woman mourns next to a deceased dog at a burned home during the Old Trails fire in Spokane, Wash., Aug. 4, 2026. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)
Court documents also show Farinacci eventually admitted to planning the Old Trails Fire for two weeks.
The documents say he built a time-delay device from paper, matches, cigarettes and rubber bands modeled after one used by serial arsonist John Leonard Orr.
Documents also allege Farinacci deliberately ignited simultaneous fires at other times to distract and thin out emergency response crews.
Background checks also showed a prior conviction for manslaughter after he fatally shot his father in Arizona in 2010. He served about a decade in prison after pleading guilty in 2012 to manslaughter and aggravated assault.