Portland police say they have identified two persons of interest in connection with a string of nine fires that were intentionally set over the weekend in the city.

Lt. Robert Martin said the individuals, whose names were not released, were brought into the police station for questioning late Sunday after a witness spotted them near the Portland Museum of Art. Martin said the individuals are being cooperative.

Martin said someone set a small shopping bag or pillowcase filled with combustible materials on fire at the rear of the brick-faced museum at 99 Spring St. That fire was reported at 9:02 p.m. Sunday.

“Including the fires from last night, it was clear that they were all intentionally set,” Martin said Sunday night.

The first fire was reported at 11:03 p.m. Saturday in a trash bin at 92 Forest Ave. The second fire was reported at 11:13 p.m. Saturday in a dumpster at 39 Forest Ave.

Martin said the police and fire departments investigated another six fires set in dumpsters or trash bins on Danforth Street, Commercial Street, Congress Street and Center Street between 12:21 a.m. and 2:11 a.m. Sunday

Martin said police will remain on high alert because the person setting the fires could have caused significant property damage or harmed individuals.

One of the fires on Forest Avenue was set next to a wooden building. The fire at the art museum scorched bricks, Martin said.

Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com

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