Florida Firefighters Called Back Several Times To Battle Wildfire at Nature Preserve

The day officials posted a $5,000 reward for the arrest of the person who started Monday's wildfire at the Pond Cypress Natural Area, firefighters were called back for the third time in four days.

Thursday's fire was the result of smoldering tree stumps, but arson investigators believe Monday's 38-acre blaze was the result of children playing with fireworks. There are no suspects. Officials hope the money will persuade witnesses to step up and tell arson investigators what they saw.

"Rarely do you find any remnants of anything ... a pile of matches or a lighter or spent fireworks," Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Capt. Don DeLucia said. "The only way [we're] going to find out who did it is purely with the help of the public."

There are conflicting reports about the origin of Wednesday's smaller blaze.

Fire-Rescue said it was a suspicious, man-made fire that charred a 100-by-100-foot section of the Royal Palm Beach nature preserve. The Division of Forestry said it was a hot spot left over from Monday's fire, which threatened about 70 homes in the La Mancha community near Okeechobee Boulevard.

DeLucia said investigators aren't sure if the blaze was started intentionally. If it was, the culprit could be sent to a juvenile fire starter course or be forced to pay up to $100,000, which is about how much it cost to put out the fire.