Newton firefighters were very busy dealing with multiple grass and brush fires Thursday afternoon.

Captain Melanie Smith said they were all on the side of Highway 87 north of Newton.

Smith initially speculated that possibly a vehicle or trailer was dragging something that was throwing sparks and causing the fires. However, late Thursday afternoon she said that more fires kept popping up on both sides of the highway and they now believe that they were intentionally set.

The Newton County Sheriff's Department is investigating.

The Keetch-Byrum Drought Index currently shows this region to be very dry and conditions favorable for the start and spread of wildfires.

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