SPOKANE, Wash – The man charged with setting a Spokane fire that burned hundreds of homes in August won’t face a judge Friday after all.
Aaron Farinacci is charged with five counts of arson for setting multiple fires, including the Old Trails Fire, considered to be the most destructive fire in Washington history.
He was supposed to be in court for a stay hearing Friday where a judge would determine if he’s able to move forward with the criminal case or if he needs further mental evaluation.
But mid-day Thursday, a note in the court file said the stay hearing is moved to October 29th.
Farinacci faces five counts of arson. According to court documents, he also admitted setting other fires in the area over the last year and is charged with setting fires on July 6, 2025; July 8, 2025; August 11, 2025 and July 24, 2026.
Farinacci’s defense attorney initially raised concerns about Farinacci’s mental competence and his ability to participate in his own defense.
The judge ordered a competency evaluation before the legal process could continue.
That evaluation revealed past mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts, including Farinacci’s own suicide attempt after killing his father in 2010.
Farinacci was seeing a counselor right up until the Old Trails Fire and met with that counselor as recently as two days before.
The evaluator determined that even though Farinacci suffers from major depressive disorder, he did have the capacity to understand the nature of the charges against him.
That report will be a key focus of a stay hearing.
At that hearing, the judge will consider the competency evaluation and determine whether Farinacci can move on to the arraignment phase where he would enter a plea to the charges against him.
Farinacci is being held on a $2 million bond.
He’s also facing charged in federal court.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
