In just under a week, the Watch Fire burned more than 2,000 acres of the San Carlos Apache Reservation and prompted reservation-wide evacuations. Officials announced that a tribal member was arrested Tuesday in connection with starting it.
Twenty-two-year-old Keanu Dude is accused of arson in connection with what began as a small brush fire that forced hundreds to evacuate their homes last week.
Local, state, and federal investigators worked to track down its cause while fire crews contained the blaze that ultimately left 73 people homeless.
Chairman Terry Rambler called the alleged crime senseless in a statement, expressing sadness over a member of the Tribe being the one charged.
Officials say the case remains under investigation.
