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.
| 1) | A stranger stands out on a closed road |
| 2) | Smoke appears and the family evacuates |
| 3) | Witness identification leads deputies to a suspect |
| 4) | Investigators reconstruct the fire’s origin |
| 5) | The case relies on multiple lines of evidence |
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.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A family saw a suspicious man near a closed road shortly before the fire began. |
| 2 | The Old Trails Fire caused widespread evacuations and extensive property destruction. |
| 3 | Investigators arrested Aaron F. Farinacci on suspicion of first-degree arson. |
| 4 | Investigators combined evidence and ruled out accidental causes when assessing the fire. |
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.
