WASHINGTON COUNTY, Maine — Maine Forest Rangers are looking for the public's help in finding the person or people responsible for setting several illegal recreational campfires in the Downeast region.
The fires have burned along the shores of West Grand Lake in rural Washington County, according to a post on social media by the Maine Forest Rangers.
The fires were left unattended and spread into the forest, including difficult areas for forest rangers and firefighters to access.
Forest Ranger Specialist Kent Nelson told NEWS CENTER Maine there have been two fires in the area; one on Aug. 28 and the other on Sept. 25. The fires caused a total of $8,000 in damages.
"The fires have also burned deep into the duff, making them tough to extinguish," the Maine Forest Rangers' post said.
The Maine Forest Service is responsible for fighting wildfires in unorganized townships.
Anyone who is camping or having fires in the area, or anyone with information on the fires, should call Maine Forest Rangers at 207-827-1800. You can also email the department at maine.forestrangers@maine.gov.
Maine has a relatively new law regarding fire sizes. LD 24 went into effect in October 2023. The law requires anyone having a fire exceeding three feet in height and three feet in diameter that is not for debris disposal to obtain a burn permit. The law also makes it illegal for Mainers to burn outdoors during red flag warning days.
Burn permits are free of charge and available online. You can click here to obtain one.
This story may be updated.