Smoke is visible last week across Nickajack Lake.A wildfire last week that burned 671 acres in Tennessee and Georgia near Nickajack Lake had a “suspicious” cause — but that’s not unusual for Dade County, Ga., an official said.
“In Dade County, we have several large fires a year of suspicious origin,” said Heath Morton, Dade County chief ranger for the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Morton said last week’s Rock Crop Fire, which started in Dade County and spread to Marion County, Tenn., still is under investigation.
“Some of it’s hunting,” Morton said. Turkey season is coming, and hunters sometimes set fires to clear away brush, he said.
“Some of it’s just pure meanness,” Morton added.