Today's headlines:
- The man accused of starting Spokane’s Old Trails fire may have started many others. We’ll have details from his court appearance yesterday.
- Spokane wildfire survivors have a place where they can get help. It’s a one-stop available to them this weekend.
- Spokane’s sheriff is getting stern with people whose homes are in wildfire evacuation zones.
- We’ll introduce you to SPR’s new Morning Edition local host.
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A suspect in Spokane’s wildfires has confessed to lighting 25 fires over the past year.
Prosecutors have charged Aaron Farinacci with arson for five of those fires, that they were able to corroborate this week.
On Thursday, Spokane Superior Court judge Jeremy Schmidt increased his bond to $2 million.
“The court does find that there is a significant risk to community safety as well as the potential for a violent offense and future failure to appear," he said.
According to court documents, Farinacci told detectives that he uses weather apps and the [popular] Watch Duty fire app and that he “planned out” what’s now called the Old Trails fire. That fire continues to threaten hundreds of Spokane homes.
Farinacci is also charged with lighting the Aubrey White fire that threatened many homes in July 2025, and in the same summer, the Copper River/Meenach fire, and Fort George fire, plus the Indian Bluff fire that burned 15 acres just last month.
The judge has ordered Farinacci be evaluated on whether he is competent to stand trial.
He’s not allowed to contact fire victims or possess lighters or matches.
Court documents reveal he is a father to a 15-month-old, and lives near where he claims to have repeatedly started fires.
The causes of Spokane’s two other existing fires are still undetermined.
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Spokane’s wildfire survivors have a variety of needs. They can check out some options at a new disaster assistance center that opened yesterday at Shadle Park High School.
The four-day event is sponsored by the city and county of Spokane, the Innovia Foundation, the Red Cross and Spokane Public Schools.
Housing providers are there. Insurance companies. Government and veterans’
agencies.
Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs spokesman Dean Henrich, says his organization wants to help people any way it can.
We got a message this morning through our general communications email from a business that was impacted by the fires and looking for resources to help either with, A, the losses that they're currently suffering because of their business being closed. So we're working on getting them some connections for that," he said.
There are also places where people can pick up creature comforts, whether it’s food for themselves or something for their pets.
“We have beds. We have food for both cats and dogs, puppy food, adult food, some special needs for seniors. We have some salmon food and some things if they're allergic, beef, pork, cat food, different kinds, seniors, kitten, yep, all the way through. What else? Pee pads," said Tia Rosetti, a volunteer for Spokanimal.
The center will be open through Sunday. Whether it continues beyond that hasn’t been determined.
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Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels is laying down the law when it comes to wildfire evacuations.
He says level 3 evacuations mean “get out” or “stay out” because of safety concerns. It’s a message aimed at people whose homes are within level 3 evacuation zones and who come back to their property.
"It may appear to them that their houses and their neighborhoods are safe and they cannot see any good reason why can’t come back home. I understand that frustration. I understand their desire for their life to turn back to normal when it has been turned upside down and there is no visible for them for the decisions that we’re making,” Nowels said.
He says crews are making progress on fires, but not enough to make it safe for people in certain areas to return.
Fire officials have downgraded some areas in level 3 to level 2…or ‘get ready to go.’ But most of the Indian Trail, Five Mile Prairie and Waikiki neighborhoods remain under level 3 evacuation orders.
In fact, Spokane city police last night issued a statement reinforcing that. It said that a popular app used by many to track fires in the area incorrectly listed Five Mile as moving to a level 2 designation. Police say that’s not true and urged residents to verify their information with official sources such as the county emergency management website.
The official warnings are not keeping people from returning home.
Each night after work, people on e-scooters, bikes and carpools go to see their evacuated neighborhoods.
Many are grabbing belongings, while others roll in to see [if the power is on or] if the house is still standing.
KUOW’s Paige Browning brings us a glimpse into their week.
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A family just unloaded 4 e-scooters from a pickup truck, and they’re heading to their house.
Another guy rides the same route back and forth, bringing stacks of shoeboxes to load into his car.
The Indian Trails neighborhood is under a mandatory evacuation because of the still-burning fires.
Cars are not allowed in… or out.
But people have found one route they can park at the barricade and either walk or roll up into the neighborhood.
Ritchie: “ I have to park on the outside, ride my skateboard all the way into the car on the inside, and then drive up the hill, park at home.”
Sam Ritchie has been making the trip a couple times a day.
He knows, as does everyone else, it’s a level three mandatory evacuation zone.
Between houses that are still standing, there are piles of rubble and ash where other homes once stood.
There are no visible flames on this block but flareups could happen any time.
But after several days, people want access.
[Ritchie2: “ Place is okay. Everything's been okay over there. Um, so there is a lot that obviously has gotten damaged around here. Like north side of the five-mile hill, we didn't really get touched over there, at least my neighborhood.”]
[I spoke with two women who wanted to check on the homes of a couple relatives’, not knowing if they’re damaged five days after the fires swept through.
But they didn’t make it on their first try. Their Lime scooter died and they weren’t allowed past an I-D check zone.]
Only people who can prove their address are allowed past certain barricades.
And if they’ve got a car inside, folks like Steven Buck are offering rides to others who are making home supply runs.
Buck: “It’s just what we have. Everybody’s stuck, everybody’s hot, everybody’s tired, everybody wants to go home, so, get ‘em home.”
[His family, including kids and dogs, stayed in his office for a couple nights.
Emergency shelters are open in town, but many neighbors are seeking comfort with places and people they know.]
[Tens of thousands of people are still under evacuation as the complex of three Spokane fires keeps burning.]
Fire officials are watching the weather closely, because with a windy Friday and Saturday ahead, fires could take a turn for the worse.
In north Spokane, Paige Browning, KUOW news.
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It’s that time of year for warnings about algae blooms in water bodies around the Inland Northwest. The Panhandle Health District says blue green algae have been detected in Fernan Lake and the upper end of Hayden Lake. The Spokane Regional Health District has issued similar warnings for West Medical Lake. Each entity is warning people who visit to keep their distance. If you’ve come into contact with the algae blooms, you may experience hives, rashes, perhaps vomiting and diarrhea. Pets may also show symptoms. Consult your veterinarian. If you want to eat fish from those lakes, take off the fat, skin and organs before you cook it.
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The Forest Service is issuing fire restrictions on federal land in north Idaho. The agency says stage 2 restrictions are now in effect in Boundary and Bonner counties. Stage 2 means you can’t create or maintain fires, campfires and stove fires. You can’t smoke outside and you can’t operate motorized vehicles when you’re not on a designated trail or road. You can’t operate a chainsaw or other machine powered by internal combustion engines between the hours of 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. Stage 1 restrictions are a little more permissive and in effect in Kootenai, Shoshone and Benewah counties. Contact the Forest Service for specifics.
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This morning you're hearing a new local voice on Morning Edition.
Hi everybody, my name is Jordy Jones, Jordan Blaine. I grew up in Spokane from a wonderful, wonderful single mom, Margie. She worked very hard to put me at Trinity, St. Al's, and then I went to Gonzaga Prep where I played a bunch of sports.
Eventually graduated, went to Carroll, Carroll College in Helena, and bounced around. Finally coming back home, where I was working in a newsroom here, met my husband who was working at Creme 2 at the time and still works at Creme 2, Brandon T. Jones. You can see him in the evening on Creme 2. And yeah, I'm a Spokane girl through and through.
Didn't necessarily foresee myself coming back here when I was younger, but now it feels right. I've been passionate about being on air since I was 18 years old. This specifically feels full circle for me because I fell in love with journalism, giving the morning announcements at prep my senior year.
So I feel like this comes back to the bare bones of that love. So you've been learning how to be a public radio host. Tell us a little bit about that experience.
You're about two and a half weeks into it, and this is kind of the first time, one of the first times listeners are getting to meet you here. Yes, no, it's humbling, but an honor. I have loved Spokane Public Radio and PR for a very long time.
And so I really feel like I'm stepping through a door that's meant just for me being here. And so I'm really thankful to you for being so kind and everything. Five days a week, I'll be here to wake you up and send you on your way throughout the day.
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Welcome to the SPR News team, Jordy!
SPR News Today is a production of Spokane Public Radio.
Reporting today was contributed by Paige Browning, Lisa Leinberger, Jordy Jones and Doug Nadvornick, today’s producer and host. Web support is provided by Anna Gyure Havlek.
Thanks for tuning in. This is SPR News.
