Arizona authorities arrested a California man Sunday morning who was suspected of starting a 600 acre wildfire near Flagstaff, Arizona.

Transient Randall Wayne Nicholson, 54, allegedly started a small campfire Saturday morning in a wooded area outside the city of Flagstaff, according to Coconino County Sheriff's Office spokesman Gerry Blair. The Los Angeles Times reports that Blair faces misdemeanor charges of burning wild land and is being in held in lieu of $2,500 bail.

AP reports that the fire was fueled by winds exceeding 33 mph and quickly spread. The fire originated behind a hotel near Interstate 40, blanketing much of the eastern side of Flagstaff with thick smoke and causing traffic to back up along the highway.

So far 170 homes have been evacuated, with several hundred remaining on standby. No injuries or deaths have been reported, and no structures have been found burned.


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