SAN CARLOS, Ariz. — A 22-year-old San Carlos Apache Tribe member has been arrested on suspicion of starting the Watch Fire, which destroyed several homes and burned hundreds of acres in eastern Arizona.
Keanu Dude was arrested on July 23 for allegedly being involved in starting the wildfire.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Arrestan a sospechoso de provocar el incendio Watch en el este de Arizona
“It saddens me deeply that a member of our Tribe has been charged with starting this fire that devastated our community,” said San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler in a statement. “Arson is a senseless act that will never be tolerated under any circumstance."
The Watch Fire began as a small brush fire on July 10 before it quickly started to grow in the following days due to monsoon winds. The fire has burned 2,162 acres and damaged 21 homes. No injuries were reported but more than 400 residents had to be evacuated and several are now without a home.
“While thankfully no one was injured, many face extreme hardship, losing their homes and all their possessions and were left with only the clothes on their back,” Rambler said in a statement.
The fire damaged power lines — causing a temporary power outage — and took a week to fully contain, authorities said.
A state of emergency was declared to help members of the tribe.
Tribal officials said Dude is unemployed and has a criminal record and was being held in the San Carlos Adult Detention & Rehabilitation Center.
No other information about Dude’s arrest or possible motive was immediately released. It was unclear if he had a lawyer yet for his case.
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