Inset: Keanu Dude (San Carlos Apache Police Department). Background: The Watch Fire destroyed homes and vehicles on Apache tribe reservation land in Arizona (KTVK/KPHO/YouTube).
A San Carlos Apache tribe member in Arizona allegedly lit an American flag on fire, sparking a brushfire that spread to 2,000 acres over seven days on reservation land, destroying homes, leaving more than 70 people homeless and prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency.
Keanu Dude, 22, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of arson in connection with a wildfire known as the Watch Fire, police said in a news release.
In an interview with independent Phoenix-based TV station KTVK and local CBS affiliate KPHO, which collectively broadcast together as “Arizona’s Family,” Elliot Sneezy, the tribe’s police chief, said the suspect was seen burning an American flag just before the wildfire began, without further elaborating about the ongoing investigation. The brush fire started about 11 p.m. on July 10 at 7 Mile and Peridot Districts on the San Carlos Reservation, more than 100 miles east of Phoenix.
By the second day, the fire spread in every direction, aided by high winds from a thunderstorm, authorities said. The fire burned 2,162 acres, destroyed 21 homes and 13 auxiliary structures, forced the evacuation of more than 400 people and left about 73 members of the tribe homeless before it was contained on July 17. No one was injured, but it was devastating nonetheless as many lost homes and possessions and were left with “only the clothes on their back,” said Terry Rambler, tribe chairman, in the news release.
Sheila Patton told “Arizona’s Family” that she lost her house and cars.
“I lost my neighbors everywhere in the neighborhood,” she told the outlet. “It’s just gone. I couldn’t believe this fire took everybody’s house. We don’t know what to do, where we’re going to go now. Just heartbreaking.”
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs authorized $40,000 to help those affected by the fire.
“I express my condolences to everybody who has been affected by the devastating fire,” she said in a statement. Thank you to every first responder who has stood in harm’s way to fight this fire and protect Arizonans. I’m proud to be delivering this immediate relief to tribal, county and municipal governments affected by the Watch Fire, and will continue working to deliver support to Arizonans affected by natural disasters. But I know we need more support. I stand with the San Carlos Apache Tribe in asking the federal government for a major disaster declaration, allowing FEMA to deliver critical assistance to communities on the ground during this fire season.”
Dude, who authorities said is unemployed and has a criminal history of assault, domestic violence, and other charges, was being held at the San Carlos Adult Detention & Rehabilitation Center.
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