Tribal member charged with arson for Watch fire

Keanu Dude, 22. - Contributed Photo/San Carlos Police

SAN CARLOS — An arrest has been made in connection to the fire that destroyed 21 homes and left 73 people homeless on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.

San Carlos Apache Police announced late Wednesday that Keanu Dude, 22, was taken into custody and charged with arson for the 2,162-acre Watch fire.

Dude is a tribal member and lives in the Gilson Wash District.

In a prepared statement, San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler said, “It saddens me deeply that a member of our tribe has been charged with starting this fire that devastated our community. Arson is a senseless act that will never be tolerated under any circumstance. I am thankful for the swift and thorough investigation by tribal and federal law enforcement that has resulted in an arrest.”

The Watch fire started as a small brush fire on July 10, but strong winds pushed the fire through San Carlos. In addition to the 21 homes, another 13 ancillary structures were also destroyed.

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