As firefighters continue to battle the dozens of wildfires and smoke continues to cover the southern United States, new leads have revealed that arson in the suspected cause of some of the fires.

Wildfires have been a major issue throughout the Appalachian Mountains as droughts are becoming more intense. Dozens of communities have undergone forced evacuation as nearby residents are urged to wear special masks before going outdoors.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, more than 5,000 firefighters are joining the effort to stop the spread of the southern wildfires that have already destroyed tens of thousands of acres of forest throughout North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory stated at a news conference, “We’re hoping for the best and preparing for the worst” after pouring in $10 million to contain the wildfires.

Stubborn droughts and a warm breeze are currently to blame for the start of the wildfires, however the U.S. Forest Service is looking at an underlying cause of arson. In Tennessee this year alone, about 1200 wildfires have been recorded, and 50 percent of these are believed to be cases of arson.

Seven Tennessee residents have been arrested within the past twenty days to be questioned on the suspicious fires. There are two incidents in Alabama that are being looked at as well. Yet another suspect is a man known as an aspiring weatherman in the Kentucky area who was just arrested with second-degree arson charges.

As these wildfires continue to dominate the southern states in the U.S., authorities are on the look out for causes other than natural weather conditions. Tight restrictions regarding the use of fire have been placed in almost every county being affected by these fires, as local fire departments hope to contain the last of the flames.