A man, Keanu Dude, was arrested by Arizona police for arson in connection with a wildfire that destroyed homes and forced evacuations on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. The fire, called the Watch Fire, began with a small brush fire but spread rapidly due to high winds. Dude, a member of the tribe, was charged with starting the fire, though the exact cause is still under investigation. The blaze destroyed 21 homes, displaced over 400 residents, and left 73 without shelter. The tribe is accepting donations to help rebuild. In California, police are searching for suspects who allegedly sparked a major wildfire with illegal fireworks, which has forced over 1,500 residents from their homes and caused significant damage. In total, there are 88 large active wildfires burning over 1.4 million acres of land in the West, fueled by extreme heat and record-breaking temperatures. Gov. Gavin Newsom attributes the surge in acres burned to unprecedented heat. Nearly 85% of wildland fires in the U.S. are caused by humans, with common causes including unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, and acts of arson. Authorities are working to prosecute those responsible for these devastating fires.
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Arizona Man Arrested for Arson in Connection to Devastating Wildfire that Destroyed Homes
