Second Firefighter Accused of Arson

A part-time firefighter has been accused of starting what has become the worst wildfire in Arizona's history.

Leonard Gregg, 29, who served with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is the second firefighter in a month to be accused of starting a major fire. He has admitted setting the blaze, saying he needed the work a major fire would bring.

Appearing in court in Flagstaff yesterday, Mr Gregg apologised for his actions, before the magistrate told him not to incriminate himself. He faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine of $500,000 (£325,000) if convicted.

The fire is still burning in Arizona. It has destroyed more than 450,000 acres (182,000 hectares) and 423 homes.

Mr Gregg, who lives on the Fort Apache Indian reservation, was arrested at the weekend in connection with two fires that started on June 18 near Cibecue, including one that forced the evacuation of the town of Show Low. The wildfire merged with another started accidentally by a lost hiker who fired off a flare to attract rescuers.

The firefighter is alleged to have set the fires by lighting dry grass, but, according to his statements to investigators, had not expected them to become so big. Before news of the blazes became public, he told a woman he had to hurry home because he would soon be getting called out to a fire.

The wildfire has caused great economic hardship on the reservation, where unemployment stands at 60%. A timber business has been badly damaged and the casino, one of the main employers, was closed for two weeks. The blaze has also killed many elk.

Terry Barton, a US forest service employee, was charged last month with starting Colorado's largest-ever wildfire.