Unveiling the Arsonist: Aaron Farinacci's Confession and the Old Trails Fire Investigation
A recent court document from the Spokane County court viewer reveals that Aaron Farinacci has confessed to planning and deliberately starting the Old Trails Fire. Farinacci admitted to Detective Michael Drapeau that he had been preparing for the fire for about two weeks and had studied other arsonists to develop his plan. Additional charges are being sought based on Farinacci's confessions, pending a ruling by the judge. Farinacci's court appearance is scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. where the judge is expected to address the additional charges.
In his confession to Detective Drapeau, Farinacci mentioned that he believed arson was an easy crime to escape if given enough time and that he always carried items like Marijuana or cigarettes to provide an alibi for having a lighter or matches. He expressed his fascination with fire, describing it as powerful and beautiful, and believed that things going through fire undergo a form of rebirth. Farinacci meticulously planned the Old Trails Fire, choosing a day with high winds, low humidity, and high heat to ensure rapid and dangerous fire spread.
Farinacci monitored weather conditions using the Watch Duty app on the day of the fire and was aware of the red flag warnings in Spokane, indicating a particularly dangerous situation for fires. He admitted to researching a notorious serial arsonist, John Leonard Orr, and creating a time delay device using simple materials like notebook paper, matches, a cigarette, and a rubber band. While Farinacci acknowledged that he knew the fire would escalate, he claimed he did not intend for it to grow as large as it did. He also revealed plans to provoke law enforcement if confronted but ultimately chose to feign innocence when contacted.
An updated memorandum from the Spokane County court viewer disclosed that Farinacci confessed to setting a total of 25 fires since July 25, with four of them corroborated by Detective Drapeau. These fires include the Aubrey White Fire, several brush fires near 2822 W. Elliot Drive, the Equestrian Fire, and the Indian Bluff fire. Investigators are seeking five counts of arson in the first degree against Farinacci for his alleged involvement in these incidents.
The Old Trails Fire, now part of the Spokane Area Fires, has caused extensive damage, forcing numerous evacuations and destroying hundreds of structures. Farinacci's admission sheds light on the deliberate planning and execution behind these destructive fires, highlighting the importance of swift and decisive legal action in such cases.