Saturday's woods fire the result of rekindling of earlier blaze

Fire trucks from Acton, North Berwick and Wakefield on scene Sunday on Prospect HIll Road. (Lebanon Voice photo)

WEST LEBANON - Saturday's brush fire in deep woods off Prospect Hill Road was the result of a rekindling of a June 17 fire and not a newly set fire, a Maine Forest Ranger investigator said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, fire crews from Lebanon with help from North Berwick, Wakefield and Acton worked Sunday to further quell any hot spots that have thus far frustrated firefighters efforts to completely extinguish the blaze.

Forest Ranger Matt Bennett said he would expect firefighters to continue patrolling the area for the next few days to ensure another full-fledged fire doesn't erupt.

Bennett said the Forest Service does have some leads on who may have started the June 17 fire, but that there are no suspects confirmed as yet.

He said he found a multitude of separate burn sites where individuals had set fires, and he noted that there was a squatter's camp in the vicinity of the burn.

About two acres was found burning and spreading rapidly on Sunday, according to Lebanon Fire and EMS.

The fire was called in to Sanford dispatch after being spotted by a passing plane.

Saturday's fire was in the same area as a woods fire that broke out 10 days ago in deep woods behind two sand pits about a half mile off Prospect Hill Road. A brush fire closer to the street adjacent to the Prospect Hill cemetery drew firefighters on May 10.

The first two fires were both found to have a human element.

Saturday's fire drew mutual aid from Milton, Wakefield, North Berwick, Rochester, Acton, Alfred, Shapleigh, South Berwick, Somersworth and Newfield.