Paul Child twice observed a man behaving suspiciously near railroad tracks close to his home in Washington. Shortly after, smoke began rising from the area, leading Child to contact authorities. This ultimately helped police identify a suspected arsonist involved in the wildfires.
Bodycam footage from the incident reveals officers evacuating Child and his family, taking them to a field showup following the detention of a man who matched the description Child provided. An officer was heard mentioning that the detained man had a fanny pack full of matches. The footage does not show these matches or clarify their retrieval.
Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested on suspicion of instigating the Old Trails Fire in eastern Washington. Child, along with his grandson and the grandson’s friend, had spotted a man whose actions seemed unusual near the fire’s origin. According to Child, the man appeared to be doing something secretive in the bushes and seemed anxious upon being noticed.
Shortly after the perceived encounter, smoke began to rise about a half-mile from Child’s location. The Airway Heights Police Department documented the situation in bodycam footage, showing smoke as officers spoke with Child’s family about evacuation procedures.
Child and two other witnesses positively identified the detained man as the individual they had seen before the fire began. The suspect was later identified as Aaron Forrest Farinacci.
Although initially released after the field showup on August 1, Farinacci faced arrest two days later on arson charges. Court documents suggest he used weather apps to plan ideal fire conditions and constructed a device incorporating matches and other materials to initiate the fire.
Child expressed regret about not being able to entirely prevent the suspect’s actions but felt relieved that law enforcement detained Farinacci. At the time, wildfires in the Spokane area had burned a significant amount of land and destroyed numerous structures.
Farinacci’s bail increased to $2 million, as authorities allege he admitted to igniting multiple fires since 2025. Court documents link him to a time-delay ignition technique aiming to thwart emergency response efforts.
As the danger from the wildfire grew, Child’s family prepared to evacuate, leaving behind some belongings and essential supplies. Reflecting on the events, Child emphasized that his decision to contact law enforcement was one small but crucial part of a broader effort to ensure community safety.