After the fall, the Wallow fire suspects will appear in court

After the fall, the Wallow fire suspects will appear in court. Two suspects in the Wallow fire, which caused the largest fire in Arizona's history this summer,...

After the fall, the Wallow fire suspects will appear in court. The two suspects in the Wallow fire, which caused the largest fire in Arizona's history this summer, recently appeared in Flagstaff Court. Prosecutors allege that the Mapov cousins ​​lit a campfire while camping in the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, causing the forest fire. The fire burned 538,000 acres, 32 homes, and 36 outdoor structures, causing direct losses of more than $790,000. In court, the man pleaded not guilty. A judge ordered them to stay off the national forest while they awaited approval, and the Wallow Fire broke out on May 29 this summer until July 8, when monsoon rains finally extinguished the flames. The Mapov brothers told investigators they went hiking thinking they had extinguished the bonfire they had lit to cook breakfast. But investigators found that the candy wrapper David Mapov threw did not melt. The brothers worked with authorities to reorganize the camping trip for the day. A Forest Service investigation found that Mapov made no attempt to remove the flammable material, nor did they bury the burnt ashes with soil. The Mapov brothers were charged with five counts, including leaving a campfire unattended and failing to maintain a national forest and causing a fire. If convicted, they all face three years in prison, a $2,500 fine, and civil lawsuits if the homeowners sue. The next round of approvals will begin on December 13.