OLD ORCHARD BEACH — On Friday, the investigation into the cause of a host of fires along the railroad tracks Thursday, from Scarborough to Biddeford, continued.

A definitive cause probably won’t be reached for another day or two, said Fire Ranger John Leavitt.

The Maine Forest Service is leading the investigation, as it is required to investigate any fires that take place outside and in wooded areas, said Leavitt. Each year, he said, the agency investigates between 10 to 30 railroad-related fires.

On Friday, six rangers, assisted by officers from police departments in the affected communities, began the investigation throughout the four affected communities, he said. Eyewitness are being questioned, and the cars of a freight train that some have said they believe caused the fire are being inspected.

According to Leavitt, some eyewitnesses said they saw sparks fly after the freight train passed by. Calls to the fire departments in Saco and Old Orchard Beach began coming in around 1:30 p.m. Pan Am Railways Executive Vice President Cynthia Scarano said a report from the Maine Forest Service stated that the locomotive for the train showed no sign of a malfunction.

Leavitt said he had no knowledge of that information. He said that the investigation of the 18-car train was underway in Dover, N.H., where the train was stopped at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The operator of Amtrak’s Downeaster said the passenger train was not responsible for the flames. That train passed through Old Orchard Beach around 1 p.m., shortly before the freight train, but was not connected to the fires, an official said.

On Friday, the investigation was focusing on the freight train, said Leavitt.

“We’re trying to get the time the train went through, and what people saw and when,” he said.

In addition, said Leavitt, during the investigation the rangers would look into whether any violations by the railroad company occurred, such as whether there was an overgrowth of vegetation on the railway or if the train exhaust system wasn’t running in accordance with state standards.

Saco and Old Orchard Beach were the hardest hit as a result of the string of fires, which caused significant property damages in those communities and some minor injuries to several firefighters.

One resident in Saco who was overcome by smoke was taken to Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, said Saco Fire Chief Duross.

The most significant property damage occurred at the Wagon Wheel RV Resort on Old Orchard Road in Old Orchard Beach, where 10 trailers were destroyed and six sustained heat damage.

Leavitt said these properties sustained severe damage “because of their proximity to the fire and proximity to each other,” as well as “the fuel on the ground,” referring to pine needles and leaves.

Campground Manager Brian Kuchenbecker said the sites that sustained damage run adjacent to the railroad tracks that lie along the back of the property.

He said he first learned about the fire when he received a text. At the time, Kuchenbecker happened to be watering flowers near the section impacted by the fire.

When he arrived at the scene he called the fire department and then used his hose to battle the fire.

“I did a little firefighting,” said Kuchenbecker, “trying to save trailers.”

His priority, he said, was to evacuate the residents who live in the campsite, which is open seasonally.

“Everything can be replaced, not people,” said Kuchenbecker.

On Friday, he said, he was allowing those whose property sustained damage onto the campgrounds so they could view the damage. Kuchenbecker said he would work with property owners who would be filing insurance claims.

In the aftermath of the fire, fire chiefs in both Saco and Old Orchard Beach said they were busy filing reports for those whose property sustained damage and planned to file insurance claims.

“We’re waiting to hear the cause of the fire and working with residents so they can begin to do what they need to get their lives in order,” said Duross.

In addition, he said, there were still a number of hot spots on Friday, which firefighters put out.

Although most of the fires ”“ which were “too many to count” ”“ were out by 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Duross said, the department was called out four times after that on Thursday evening.

It wasn’t until 11 a.m. Friday that he said the fire was officially over.

There were also some smoldering areas in Old Orchard Beach on Friday, said Old Orchard Beach Fire Chief John Glass, but they were contained.

The only other significant property damage in town in addition to the campground, he said, was to some fencing and sheds at the Old Salt Village condominiums on Old Salt Road.

Glass praised the help the town received in putting out the fire, most of which was completed by 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Assistance came from fire departments from Windham to York, as well as a Portland engine that covered the fire station.

Not only firefighters but also some residents and others helped out, too, from pulling hoses to shoveling dirt on small fires.

“Everyone really jumped in,” said Duross.

There were about four related fires in Biddeford, said that city’s Fire Chief Joseph Warren, which burned brush along the railroad tracks.

Warren said there were “no injuries and no real damage.”

In Scarborugh, there were two fires that took place south of the Scarborough marsh, said Leavitt.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected]. Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf and the Associated Press contributed to this report.