A man has been arrested for starting a forest fire that killed 12 in southwest China's Yunnan Province, police said Thursday.

Yang Yida, 34, is alleged to have started the fire on May 22 in a forest in Cuiyu Township, Lijiang City.

Twelve villagers from Kujiao Village were killed while trying to extinguish the fire.

The police caught Yang on May 27 and his official arrest was on June 22.

Investigations showed Yang and three other people were cutting down forest trees for building material. He started the fire to cook a meal. Legal procedures are ongoing.