Paul Child drove past a stranger twice near railroad tracks outside his Washington home, then watched smoke rise about 10 minutes after the man crouched in nearby bushes – setting off a chain of events that helped police identify an accused wildfire arsonist.Newly obtained bodycam footage shows officers evacuating Child’s family and taking him, his grandson and the boy’s friend to a field showup after detaining a man who matched their description.While Child and the other witnesses waited near the showup scene, bodycam footage captured an officer saying the detained man had "a whole fanny pack full of matches."The video does not show the alleged matches or establish how they were recovered.MYSTERY STRANGER VANISHES AFTER FAMILY SAYS FRANTIC WARNING SAVED THEIR LIVES DURING DEVASTATING HOUSE FIREAaron F.Farinacci was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire in eastern Washington.
(Arizona Department of Corrections)Child said he and the other witnesses – his grandson and his grandson’s friend – were not told about the alleged matches or other items before they were asked to view the detained man."We thought he had a backpack," Child told Fox News Digital."They didn’t say anything to us anyway about the fanny pack with matches, cigarettes [and] I guess lighter in it."CANADIAN WILDFIRE SMOKE IGNITES CROSS-BORDER FEUD OVER OTTAWA'S 'WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE'Child told Fox News Digital that he, his grandson and the grandson’s friend spotted a man twice near railroad tracks close to the apparent fire origin.
The second time, Child said, the man’s behavior appeared unusual.Wildfire witness Paul Child speaks with an Airway Heights officer near his pickup truck as authorities respond to the Old Trails Fire on Aug.1, 2026.
(Airway Heights Police Department)"He was kind of bent over and looked like he was doing something in the bushes," Child said."He got up, saw us.
When he saw us, he turned to face us and kind of was p...