HAYDEN - After a week of inactivity, someone started another small ground fire along the northeast border of Dalton Gardens near Hayden.

On Tuesday afternoon, firefighters from Northern Lakes Fire District and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue responded to a human-caused fire, bringing the total number of fires to nine since June 27. Northern Lakes spokesman Jim Lyon told The Press that the most recent fire occurred on top of a previous blaze in the area where 15th Street turns into Lookout Drive.

"It didn't just burn the same area either, it enlarged the previously burned area," Lyon said.

Like the previous fires, Tuesday's flames happened alongside the roadway.

However, Lyon said the firefighters were paged to the scene around 1:15 p.m., which is hours earlier than last week's fires were reported.

Last week, representatives from Northern Lakes, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department canvassed the neighborhoods where the fires have been set. They hung up signs informing the public that cases of arson have happened in the area, and spoke with individuals who live in the community.

Their message then was one Lyon echoed with The Press on Tuesday.

"We want people in the neighborhood to be on the lookout for suspicious activity," Lyon said.

In addition to a multi-agency fire response, Lyon said a detective from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office has launched an arson investigation.

"It's definitely still a joint effort," Lyon said. "We're working closely with all the other agencies due to the seriousness of it."

Anyone with information on the person or persons responsible for the fires is encouraged to call (208) 777-8500 or (208) 659-2716. If there is an actual fire or fire-related emergency, call 911.