Veazie police suspect arson in gravel pit fire

VEAZIE – Police are trying to find who may have started a fire Saturday afternoon in some dry grass at the edge of a gravel pit near Greystone Trailer Park.

“It was an intentionally set fire,” Veazie police Officer Chris Greeley said Sunday. “They had used a lighter, a can of hairspray and a piece of cloth.”

The fire was reported just before 1 p.m. by residents living at the mobile home park, and police believe it may have been started by juveniles residing there.

“Because of the wind, it could have really become a problem had it moved up into the trees further,” Greeley said. The fire was at the edge of the pit, about 15 to 20 feet from homes in the park.

Greeley credited the fire department for stopping the fire at the ground level before it could spread to the trees.

“The way that thing was rolling, they really did a good job of getting it out,” he said. The police officer was the first one at the scene and said it took about an hour to extinguish and clean up.

Whoever started the fire likely will be charged with arson and potentially faces other charges, Greeley said.

“It doesn’t have to be a structure for it to be an arson,” he said.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Greeley at the Veazie Police Department, 947-2358.