ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - It's not unattended campfires, it's arson that's destroying portions of the Mark Twain National Forest each year.
Arson has become so common, the U.S. Forest Service is now offering rewards for information.
"It ends up causing local fire departments along with the national forest service and other agencies to respond and fight wildfires that were caused by arson and that can be very dangerous," explains U.S. Forest Service spokesman Cody Norris.
Norris says one of the worst arson-triggered wildfires was the Rozelle fire in 2018 that destroyed more than 2,000 acres, a home, and forced evacuation of a school.
The Forest Service has set up an arson hotline. The agency is offering rewards up to $25,000 for successful prosecution. The hotline number is 573-364-1745.