Arsonists are a “special” kind of criminal. In my view, they rank among the worst killers because they don’t choose a single victim – they’re willing to kill anyone and everyone in their path. They’re essentially indiscriminate serial killers.
They don’t care if the victims are children, entire families, the elderly, pastors, first responders, immigrants, veterans, doctors, scientists – or innocent animals like cats, dogs, birds, and wildlife. Nor do they care about the toxic smoke that can blanket entire regions, causing respiratory problems and other health issues for people hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
They don’t care about the homes reduced to ashes, the irreplaceable family photos, wedding albums, heirlooms, businesses, or a lifetime of memories. They know fires can spiral out of control, consuming thousands of acres and entire communities. They know people can die trapped in terror, suffering one of the most horrifying deaths imaginable. And yet they strike the match anyway. They are truly evil people.
They should never have any kind of bond when they are arrested, and when they are convicted, they deserve the death penalty. If it were up to me, they’d be burned at the stake. Literally.
It only takes one evil person with a lighter to destroy the lives of thousands of people. Anyone who deliberately sets a deadly fire should face the ultimate punishment.
This week, authorities arrested [1] a suspect accused of intentionally starting one of the devastating Spokane-area wildfires, where hundreds of structures have been destroyed and tens of thousands forced to evacuate. The suspect, Aaron Farinacci, has denied the allegations.
The man doesn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities. Authorities say he has a violent criminal past that stretches back more than a decade. Farinacci, 37, previously served about 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the 2010 shooting death of his step-father in Arizona after he was asked to do the dishes. Court records also show he was questioned in connection with two separate fire investigations in Spokane last year, although no charges were filed in those cases. He completed probation in early 2024 and is now being held on a $1 million bond in connection with the Old Trails Fire.
That’s the criminal INJUSTICE system for you – continually releasing dangerous people into our communities.
The bottom line is that if prosecutors prove an arsonist intentionally set a fire that kills (or has the potential to kill) children, adults, first responders, or animals, that person should never ever walk free. But more than that, he or she shouldn’t be able to breathe our air anymore.
Arson isn’t just a property crime. It’s an indiscriminate act that turns neighborhoods into ash, erases family history in minutes, and leaves victims with nothing but smoke and grief – if they live through it. Unlike many crimes, fire doesn’t stop at a certain line even if the arsonist wants it to.
Life without parole should be the bare minimum for anyone convicted of intentionally setting a deadly fire. But even that feels inadequate. An arsonist doesn’t just murder people – they gamble with entire communities, knowing they could wipe out families, neighborhoods, wildlife, and generations of memories with a single match. When someone deliberately unleashes that kind of indiscriminate destruction, they’ve forfeited any claim to mercy.