The Maine Forest Service is trying to figure out who started a campfire on a small Belgrade island last week, eventually causing a wildfire.

So far, no suspects have been identified, said Darrell Rich, a state forest ranger who went to the scene Friday afternoon.

The fire burned about a half-acre on a small, tree-covered island in Hamilton Pond, near the intersection of routes 27 and 135 in Belgrade.

Rich said the wildfire was the result of someone failing to extinguish a campfire fully.

“I don’t know who has done it yet,” he said Tuesday. “I was hoping someone would let me know.”

Firefighters went to the scene late Friday afternoon and were there for about four hours, using a boat and special equipment to contain the fire.

It originally was spotted by the pilot of a Maine Forest Service helicopter who was flying over the area and dumped water on the island before firefighters arrived, Rich said.

Rich said he thinks the land is privately owned, but he hasn’t found out who owns it.

There are two possible misdemeanor charges that could be filed against a suspect, Rich said. There would be one violation if the person started the fire without the landowner’s permission. There would be another if someone failed to extinguish a fire before leaving the site.

Anyone who starts campfires should ensure that they’re completely extinguished by drowning them in water and digging out any embers that have become buried in the ground.

He said anyone with information about the Belgrade fire should report it to the Maine Forest Service at 624-7076.

Charles Eichacker — 621-5642

ceichacker@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @ceichacker

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