Coverage spread: 2 sources — 2 unrated
Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.
Where they agree
- Aaron Farinacci, 37, was arrested by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and accused of starting the Old Trails Fire.
- Farinacci was previously convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault in Arizona related to the 2010 shooting death of his father in Mesa.
- The Spokane-area wildfires destroyed at least 700 structures and forced more than 60,000 people to evacuate.
Where they differ
- ABC15 provides the most detail on the 2010 Mesa killing, including the dishwashing argument that preceded the shooting and Farinacci’s self-inflicted gunshot wound afterward.
- 12News splits its coverage into separate short pieces — one on Farinacci’s Arizona background, one on the bare arrest news, and one focused solely on displaced families’ devastation — rather than combining all elements into a single detailed account.
- Only 12News’ devastation-focused piece centers on residents’ firsthand experience, including a quote calling the fire “a monster,” while ABC15 stays focused on the suspect and legal history.
Who was arrested and for what
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday the arrest of Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, on an arson charge. Investigators accuse him of starting the Old Trails Fire, one of several wildfires that tore through the Spokane, Washington area. Farinacci has ties to Arizona, where he was previously convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault stemming from a 2010 shooting that killed his father at their home in Mesa.
What happened in Mesa in 2010
According to Mesa police at the time, Farinacci and his father got into an argument over household chores — reportedly about doing the dishes — that escalated into a fatal shooting. After the shooting, Farinacci was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was later arrested and convicted on the manslaughter and aggravated assault charges tied to his father’s death.
Scale of the damage in Washington
The wildfires burning around Spokane — described by residents as catastrophic — destroyed at least 700 structures and forced more than 60,000 people to evacuate. Coverage of the aftermath describes families returning to neighborhoods reduced to ash and ruin, with one resident calling the fire “a monster.” The Old Trails Fire that Farinacci is accused of starting is one of three major fires that struck the region.
How the coverage differs
The Arizona outlets covering this story — 12News and ABC15 — largely rely on the same core facts from Washington authorities and Mesa police records, but they emphasize different angles. ABC15’s report leans into the arson allegation and details of Farinacci’s Arizona criminal history, spelling out the family dispute that preceded the 2010 killing. 12News runs multiple shorter pieces: one focused narrowly on Farinacci’s Arizona background and criminal record, one on the bare fact of an arrest connected to the fires, and a separate piece focused entirely on the human toll — families returning to devastated homes — without tying that specific story back to the arson suspect. None of the available reporting includes a statement from Farinacci, his legal representation, or additional detail on how investigators linked him to the fire’s ignition.
What remains unclear
The available reporting does not specify exactly how the Old Trails Fire started, what evidence led investigators to Farinacci, or what charges he faces in Washington beyond the initial arson accusation. It’s also not detailed how or when Farinacci relocated from Arizona to Washington, nor whether he has any additional criminal history there. Details on formal charges, a court date, or a plea have not yet been reported.
Why this story crosses state lines
The story resonates with Arizona audiences because of Farinacci’s history in Mesa, linking a high-profile Pacific Northwest wildfire disaster back to a notorious local case from 2010. For Washington residents, the more pressing story is the fires themselves: widespread destruction across the Spokane area, with tens of thousands displaced and hundreds of homes lost, making the identity and motive of anyone accused of contributing to that damage a matter of significant public interest.
Sources
Featured photo: Adam Jones, Ph.D. via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)