How a grandfather’s quick thinking led fire investigators to a Spokane arson suspect

Grandfather’s Sharp Eyes Help Pinpoint Arson Suspect in Spokane Wildfire Crisis

Sandego.net – A routine drive through rural Spokane County became the turning point in one of Washington’s most devastating wildfire events. Paul Child, traveling with his grandson on a Saturday afternoon, noticed a peculiar figure lingering by the roadside—a bald man with a backpack and green T-shirt pacing back and forth. What seemed like an odd coincidence at first would soon connect directly to the Old Trails Fire, the opening blaze of three catastrophic wildfires that have scorched more than 10,000 acres across the region.

A Suspicious Encounter

Child recounted the moment to reporters on Tuesday, describing how the man appeared to be watching their vehicle as they passed. “He was kind of walking back and forth,” Child explained. “He was kind of watching us, staring at us or looking at us as we were driving by.”

The grandfather initially dismissed the encounter as unremarkable. However, approximately 15 minutes later, while returning home after collecting his grandson’s friend, Child spotted the same individual in the identical location. This time, however, the man’s behavior had shifted noticeably.

“Only this time, he was kind of bent over and looked like he was doing something in the bushes and the tree line on the other side of the railroad tracks,” Child said.

When the man noticed Child’s vehicle approaching, he straightened up and began shuffling nervously back and forth—a gesture that would later prove significant in identifying the suspect.

Smoke on the Horizon

Shortly after Child arrived home, his daughter reported seeing a fire. The grandfather rushed outside and witnessed a plume of smoke rising from precisely the location where he had observed the suspicious man. His immediate reaction was clear.

“My first response was … ‘That S.O.B. started a fire,'” Child recalled.

The nervous man in the bushes turned out to be Aaron Farinacci, a 37-year-old Spokane resident and convicted killer. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Child’s detailed descriptions helped investigators identify Farinacci as a suspect in the Old Trails Fire, which ignited on Saturday alongside two other major blazes.

Evidence and Arrest

During his initial detention, Farinacci was wearing a fanny pack and a green T-shirt bearing the phrase “who needs luck I have charm.” According to the probable cause affidavit, his fanny pack contained cigarettes, a butane lighter, and a box of heavy-duty waterproof matches. When questioned by a sheriff’s deputy, Farinacci claimed he used the matches to light his cigarette if his lighter failed.

When informed that witnesses had seen him emerging from the fire area, Farinacci responded that those witnesses “don’t know ‘the whole thing,'” the court document states. He maintained that he was walking his regular 4-mile loop, which includes the railroad tracks area. Despite his denials, investigators eventually determined that Farinacci had been seen leaving the fire’s point of origin.

Widespread Destruction

The trio of wildfires has caused extensive damage across the Spokane region. More than 10,000 acres have burned, tens of thousands of residents have evacuated their homes, and hundreds of properties have been destroyed. While Child’s daughter called 911 to report the fire, the grandfather took it upon himself to alert neighboring residents about the rapidly spreading flames.

A police officer and firefighters responded quickly to the scene. Child flagged down the officer and provided his description of the man he had observed. The officer relayed this information to colleagues and assisted Child’s family and their animals in evacuating. “At that time, we didn’t know which way (the fire) was going to go, whether my only way in and out was going to be blocked or not,” Child said. “So we got out of there.”

Legal Proceedings Continue

Farinacci was arrested on Monday and formally charged with first-degree arson. The Spokane resident made his first court appearance remotely from jail on Tuesday, where his bond was set at $1 million. Investigators revealed in the arrest affidavit that Farinacci had been contacted the previous year regarding two other fires, though he was not charged in either incident.

During Farinacci’s initial detention, he was released at the scene while deputies continued evacuation efforts. At that time, law enforcement was unaware of the complete facts of the incident, including the fire’s point of origin. Those details emerged on Sunday when a state fire investigator examined the case thoroughly.

While authorities knew Farinacci had been identified as someone seen leaving the general fire area, they did not initially realize he had been observed departing from the fire’s origin point. This distinction proved crucial in building the case against him.

Farinacci’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday. CNN has not been able to find contact information for his attorney. As legal proceedings move forward, firefighters continue battling the three infernos, including the Old Trails Fire that began with what one grandfather recognized as suspicious behavior on a quiet Saturday afternoon.