Maine Forest Service Calls Weekend Wildfire Suspicious

KENNEBUNK, Maine -- At least one of the dozen or so wildfires that spread through southern Maine on Patriot's Day weekend has been deemed "suspicious" and is the subject of an ongoing investigation.

The suspicious fire burned through several acres of hardwood forest area off Maguire Road in Kennebunk and threatened several homes on Saturday afternoon. Several area fire departments and the Maine Forest Service began responding around 3 p.m. and had the fire contained by around 6 p.m.

But unlike the other brushfires around the state this past weekend, no cause could be easily found for the Kennebunk fire, said Ranger Claudette Desautels of the Maine Forest Service.

Desautels said investigators did not find anything that would make them think the fire was suspicious. She said the determination was made because investigators ruled out some of the usual causes of brush fires -- burning debris, cigarettes, camp fires, lightning, or railroad traffic.

Fire danger has been "very high" in the state this month, because of dry conditions, Desautels said, helping create perfect conditions for wildfires.

In other fires this past weekend, most of the possible causes were found quickly, she said. But the Kennebunk fire was in an area about 100 yards from any home, with no trails, no ATV traffic, and no sign of human use.

"We're calling it suspicious and incendiary, and are investigation is ongoing," said Desautels. "But we may never know what caused it."

Copyright 2012 - Portland Press Herald, Maine

McClatchy-Tribune News Service