A Washington family’s report of a stranger near a closed road helped investigators focus on a suspect shortly before the Old Trails Fire began. Paul Child said he saw the man near railroad tracks and later watched him bend into nearby brush. The fire spread rapidly across dry grasslands, forcing evacuations and destroying hundreds of buildings. Authorities later arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson.

A stranger stands out on a closed road

Paul Child was driving his grandson to pick up a friend on a Saturday in early August when he noticed a bald man near railroad tracks along West Euclid Road in eastern Washington. The dead-end road had been closed for several years, with only two homes beyond a barricade. Because strangers rarely entered the area, the man’s presence drew attention.

About 10 minutes later, Child passed the same location and saw the man still there. He said the individual appeared bent over in brush, grass and trees, then stood up and acted nervously after noticing the vehicle. Child’s grandson also questioned what the man was doing.

Smoke appears and the family evacuates

After returning home, Child’s daughter, Ana Dillon, saw a large cloud of white smoke followed by black smoke near the railroad tracks. The smoke appeared minutes after the family had seen the stranger. Child called 911 and tried to warn the other homeowner on the isolated road.

The neighbor was away, but Child reached him by phone and warned that flames were moving toward the property, where workers were inside a shop. As the fire crossed dry grasslands, the family left its nearly 17-acre property with five dogs and two cats.

Witness identification leads deputies to a suspect

The family later flagged down an Airway Heights police officer and described the man as a bald white male wearing a green shirt and backpack. Child provided the location where he had seen him before smoke rose. Spokane County sheriff’s deputies detained a person matching that description.

Child, his grandson and the grandson’s friend watched from Child’s pickup, about 50 yards away, as deputies removed the man from a patrol vehicle. Child said the man’s build and clothing matched the person the family had seen.

Authorities later arrested Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of first-degree arson, alleging that he intentionally started the Old Trails Fire. The blaze was the largest of three wildfires that destroyed hundreds of buildings and prompted the evacuation of about 67,000 people.

Investigators reconstruct the fire’s origin

Court records show investigators concluded that the fire began in the area identified by Child. They ruled out trains and nearby electrical infrastructure before determining that the fire was consistent with dry grass ignited by an open flame from a match or lighter.

Scott Sweetow, a retired Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executive, said investigators must establish where a fire began and determine how it ignited. They examine burned terrain and vegetation, assess witness accounts and eliminate accidental causes such as lightning, power equipment, trains and discarded smoking materials.

The case relies on multiple lines of evidence

Sweetow cautioned that no single fact should decide an arson case. Investigators reportedly noted that Farinacci had waterproof matches and a butane lighter when deputies first contacted him, but those items must be assessed alongside match remnants, forensic findings, electronic records and witness accounts.

Child said deputies initially released Farinacci before arresting him after investigators developed additional evidence. Sweetow said that sequence was not necessarily unusual during a fast-moving wildfire emergency, when evacuations and evidence gathering can occur together.

Court records also show that Farinacci previously faced a first-degree murder charge after fatally shooting his father during an argument in Arizona in 2010. He later pleaded guilty to reduced manslaughter and aggravated assault charges, served about eight years in prison and was released in 2020. The arson allegation remains a criminal accusation, and a court must determine the case.

Summary

The family’s observations gave investigators an early lead and helped identify the reported point of origin. The case depends on more than eyewitness recognition, requiring authorities to connect the alleged suspect to the ignition through physical, forensic and circumstantial evidence. The arson allegation remains unresolved in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the eyewitness report?

Paul Child reported seeing a bald man near railroad tracks along a closed section of West Euclid Road shortly before smoke appeared.

Who was arrested?

Authorities arrested Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire.

How did investigators assess the cause?

They examined the origin, terrain and vegetation, ruled out trains and nearby electrical infrastructure, and concluded the blaze was consistent with dry grass ignited by an open flame.

©2025 News Journos. All rights reserved.

A Washington grandfather told investigators that a stranger was lingering near railroad tracks shortly before smoke rose and the Old Trails Fire began. The family reported the encounter, warned a nearby property owner and evacuated as the blaze spread across dry grasslands. Authorities later arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson after investigators determined the fire began in the area described by the witness.

The fire was the largest of three wildfires that damaged hundreds of buildings and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate in the Spokane area. Investigators said the case was built through witness accounts, physical evidence and the elimination of accidental ignition sources.

Eyewitness spots unusual activity

Paul Child said he was driving his grandson to pick up a friend on Saturday when he noticed a bald man near railroad tracks along West Euclid Road in eastern Washington. The road is a closed dead-end stretch with only two homes beyond a barricade, making unfamiliar people easy for residents to notice.

Child said the man was initially standing and looking toward the tree line. About 10 minutes later, Child passed the same location and saw the man bent over in brush, grass and trees. The witness said the man appeared nervous when he saw the vehicle, and Child’s grandson also questioned what the stranger was doing there.

“This time he was kind of bent over and looked like he was doing something in the brush or the bushes and the grass and the trees.”

Family reports smoke and evacuates

After returning home, Child’s daughter, Ana Dillon, looked toward the railroad tracks and saw a large cloud of white smoke followed by black smoke. The family connected the smoke to the man’s earlier presence and called 911.

Child also tried to reach the only other homeowner on the isolated stretch. Although the neighbor was away, Child warned him by telephone that the wildfire was moving toward the property, where workers were inside a shop. As firefighters arrived and flames moved through dry grasslands, the family packed belongings and evacuated with five dogs and two cats.

Suspect identified and charged

The family later flagged down an Airway Heights police officer and described the man as a bald white male wearing a green T-shirt and backpack. Child also identified the location where he had seen the person before smoke appeared. Spokane County deputies detained a man matching that description.

Child, his grandson and the grandson’s friend then viewed the detained man from inside a pickup truck. Child said they recognized his build and clothing. Authorities later arrested Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, on suspicion of first-degree arson, alleging that he intentionally set the Old Trails Fire.

According to court records, Farinacci was initially released before investigators developed additional evidence and arrested him. The records also show that he previously faced a first-degree murder charge in Arizona after fatally shooting his father during a 2010 argument. He later pleaded guilty to reduced manslaughter and aggravated assault charges, served about eight years and was released in 2020.

Investigators reconstruct the fire

Scott Sweetow, a retired federal explosives and fire investigation executive, said eyewitness information is an important starting point but cannot by itself establish arson. Investigators must first identify the point of origin, examine burn patterns and study how vegetation and terrain were affected.

Investigators also consider possible accidental causes, including lightning, electrical infrastructure, trains and discarded smoking materials. In this case, court records state that the fire originated where Child reported seeing the man. Investigators ruled out trains and nearby electrical equipment before concluding that dry grass had likely been ignited by an open flame from a match or lighter.

“Arson fire in general is very hard to investigate. It requires a very meticulous focused effort.”

Evidence remains part of a broader case

Authorities reportedly found waterproof matches and a butane lighter when deputies first contacted Farinacci. Sweetow cautioned that such items should be assessed alongside witness statements, cellphone or other electronic records, first-responder observations and physical evidence from the fire scene.

He said specialized waterproof matches can remain lit in conditions that extinguish ordinary matches, but investigators would typically look for related remnants near the origin point. He also said releasing a person before making an arrest can occur while deputies manage evacuations and investigators complete the evidence review.

For Child and Dillon, the investigation has remained closely tied to the destruction suffered by residents. Child said he hopes whoever caused the damage is held accountable, while the family remains concerned after learning more about the suspect’s history.

Summary

The family’s timely observations helped direct investigators to a suspect after the Old Trails Fire erupted near a closed road in eastern Washington. However, authorities must continue to support the arson allegation with fire-scene analysis, witness testimony and other corroborating evidence. The case illustrates how an eyewitness report can provide an investigative lead while a wildfire investigation determines whether the evidence supports criminal charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the eyewitness report?

Paul Child reported seeing a bald man near railroad tracks and later bent over in vegetation along a closed road shortly before smoke appeared.

Who was arrested in connection with the fire?

Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire. The allegation remains subject to court proceedings.

How did investigators assess the fire’s origin?

Investigators examined the reported origin area, burn patterns and possible ignition sources. They ruled out trains and nearby electrical infrastructure before determining that dry grass was consistent with ignition by an open flame.

©2025 News Journos. All rights reserved.