Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials have determined that the forest fire that burned nearly 700 acres in Kidder Township earlier this month was started by a person.

During the Carbon County Commissioners' meeting on Thursday, Wes Keller, forest fire specialist supervisor for DCNR, told the board that the fire, which burned 674 acres near Jack Frost Ski Area over a 10-day period, was "an arson fire."He then explained that an arson fire is determined because all other sources of fire starters have been ruled out."We ruled out everything that causes fire in that location," he said. "There is only one other thing that starts a fire in Pennsylvania if you rule out the other seven things, and that's human."How it was caused, we don't know, that but we narrowed it down to human cause and narrowed down a location," Keller continued, noting that no suspect has been named and no charges have been filed to date. "We're continuing to follow up on leads and tips."He added that it has not been determined if the fire was deliberately set or not.With regards to the East Penn Township fire, which started April 18 and burned 825 acres, Keller said that the cause was determined to be accident due to equipment. The person, a local Keller said without releasing a name, is currently in litigation with the commonwealth over starting the fire."If you cause a fire, whether accidental or malicious, you're responsible for suppression costs," he said, noting that costs could escalate when a large-scale response and aircraft are deemed necessary. "The cost could be up to six figures and you're responsible for that. Commonwealth law states we recover suppression costs."Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein added that the suppression costs do not include any volunteer agencies such as fire departments who do not charge for their services.