LEE, Maine — Maine Forest Rangers said pieces of a vehicle's catalytic converter were to blame for several wildfires in Penobscot County on Thursday.
Fires were reported on Route 6 in the towns of Lee and Lincoln, the agency said in a social media post.
Catalytic converters are devices that depollute exhaust emissions. They're vulnerable to theft because they contain valuable metals and are easy to remove. Maine passed a law in 2022 requiring vehicles being sold to have their converters engraved to make them more traceable.
Ranger David Loome investigated the fires and determined the cause, the post stated.
"Well done, Ranger," the agency said.
