Up to 700 people have been evacuated from eastern Arizona’s Fort Apache Indian Reservation after a 2,000-acre wildfire destroyed sacred sites.

The woman who got lost in the wilderness and set a signal fire that exploded into a devastating wildfire will not face charges, Arizona’s federal prosecutor has said.

A 29-year-old man was today charged with starting one of two wildfires that merged to became the largest in Arizona’s history, destroyed more than 400 homes.

A man arrested for allegedly causing the first of two wildfires which merged into the blaze that destroyed more than 400 homes in eastern Arizona is to appear in court today.