FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The second wildfire to hit this forested city in two days drove people from more than 1,000 homes Sunday, and authorities arrested a man they say caused the first blaze by dumping coals from a campfire on the ground.
Coconino County authorities asked residents of 1,044 homes in three neighborhoods north of Flagstaff to leave because of the latest fire.
The first wildfire, burning 350 acres in southeastern Flagstaff, forced the evacuation of about 170 homes, briefly shut down a hotel and remained uncontained Sunday.
Authorities knew of no buildings that had been burned. U.S. Route 89 northeast of the city was closed because of smoke from the second fire, and each blaze had forced an animal shelter to evacuate.
Crews on the ground, in air tankers and in helicopters were trying to protect homes as flames could be seen scorching treetops on nearby ridges.
“There’s a pretty impressive towering column of smoke,” said Coconino National Forest spokeswoman Karen Malis-Clark.
The American Red Cross set up a shelter at a middle school.
Fire officials did not know what sparked the second blaze. A California man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of starting the fire that erupted Saturday by leaving behind hot coals at a campsite in a wooded area about 2 miles from downtown Flagstaff.
“As far as we understand, this was not a deliberate act. It was a careless act,” said Kimberly Ott, spokeswoman for the northern Arizona city of about 60,000.
Randall Wayne Nicholson, 54, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of burning of a wildland, Ott said. Nicholson, whose hometown was not immediately available, was being held in lieu of $2,500 bail at the Coconino County jail. It was not immediately clear whether Nicholson had an attorney.
