Firefighter charged with starting Arizona blaze
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man was charged yesterday with starting one of two wildfires that merged to become the largest in Arizona's history, destroying more than 400 homes.
Leonard Gregg, 29, was making an initial appearance at a federal court in Flagstaff. A magistrate, Stephen Verkamp, told him: "You're being charged with intentionally setting fire to timber, underbrush or grass." Mr Gregg, a resident of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, is a part-time worker for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Arizona Republic newspaper reported that he was a firefighter.
The fire he is accused of starting broke out on 18 June just north of the reservation town of Cibecue. It raced up steep terrain, threatened the town of Show Low and overran two towns to the west. Then it merged with a smaller fire that had been accidentally started by a hiker signalling for help.
The blaze has burnt 452,000 acres (180,800ha) in the mountains of eastern Arizona, destroyed at least 423 homes and forced 30,000 people to evacuate nine communities. Yesterday, the flames were still raging out of control on the fire's western edge.
In Show Low, residents were back in their homes for the first time since 22 June. About 25,000 were allowed to returnafter firefighters stopped the blaze half a mile from the town's edge.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments