Old Trails Fire suspect allegedly confessed to setting 25 fires; judge doubles bail to $2M
The man accused of starting the devastating Old Trails Fire in Spokane County had his bail doubled to $2 million Thursday after prosecutors filed four additional arson charges and alleged he admitted to setting 25 fires in the area since 2025.
Court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital allege Aaron Forrest Farinacci, 37, also confessed to monitoring weather apps to identify ideal conditions and checking weather conditions while constructing a delayed ignition device to start the Old Trails Fire.
During a court appearance Thursday, Judge Jeremy Schmidt found probable cause to charge Farinacci with the four additional counts of first-degree arson stemming from fires allegedly set since last summer.
According to an arrest affidavit, Farinacci initially denied involvement in the Old Trails Fire during a 90-minute interrogation after his Aug. 3 arrest before later confessing to planning and setting the blaze alight.
WASHINGTON WILDFIRE ARSON SUSPECT PREVIOUSLY CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, RECORDS SHOW
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."
SPOKANE FIRE SURVIVOR FINDS 'JOY' THROUGH JESUS AFTER ALLEGED ARSON DESTROYS HOME AND BELONGINGS
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.
VIRGIN MARY STATUE BECOMES BEACON OF HOPE AFTER CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES, FOX NATION EXPLORES
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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
