Authorities Make Arrest in Start of One of
Two Fires in Arizona

June 26, 2002

SHOW LOW, Ariz. -- Authorities have arrested a person accused of starting one of two giant wildfires that have burned nearly 410,000 acres and destroyed at least 390 homes.

Fire spokesman Jim Paxon announced the arrest Wednesday but said he had no additional details.

Paxon received word of the arrest while he was delivering his daily 11 a.m. briefing to reporters at the fire's command center.

He said only that the individual would be arraigned in an unspecified court.

One of the two fires that joined to form what became the largest wildfire in Arizona history was ignited by a lost hiker signaling for help.

Authorities had said the other fire was human-caused, but the exact origin had remained under investigation. The fire began June 18 on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

© 2002 The Associated Press
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49417-2002Jun26.html