Arizona Sheriff: Mexican Smugglers Set Fire

An Arizona sheriff has backed up John McCain and blamed Mexican drug smugglers for starting at least one of the state's raging wildfires. Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever wasn't referring to the enormous Wallow Fire but to a smaller one called the Monument Fire that has burned up 27,000 acres to date near the US-Mexico border, reports Reuters. "It wasn't the rabbits or the rattle snakes that started this fire, it was human beings, and the only human beings believed to be occupying (the area) were smugglers," he said today.

McCain drew criticism over the weekend when he cited "substantial evidence" that illegal immigrants had started some wildfires, and he stood by the remarks today. "I wouldn't take issue with the senator at all, in fact, I would support absolutely what he is suggesting," said the sheriff. As for the Wallow Fire, which has burned 800 square miles to become the biggest fire in state history, authorities suspect an unattended campire in a national forest is to blame. Two people have been questioned, but no charges have been filed. (More Arizona wildfires stories.)