RINDGE — Fire crews in Rindge were called to two separate fires late Saturday night, one a rapidly spreading brush fire near the New Ipswich town line and the other a suspected act of arson on Route 119, according to information from the Rindge Fire Department.

The first call came in around 8:51 p.m. on October 11, when firefighters were dispatched to Old New Ipswich Road for a brush fire burning near the roadside. Crews from Rindge and Jaffrey worked quickly to contain the flames, which covered an area roughly 100 feet by 50 feet and were spreading into a wooded section. About 2,000 gallons of water were used to bring the fire under control.

Fire officials said the blaze appeared to have started from the careless disposal of smoking materials.

Just over an hour later, at 10:09 p.m., firefighters received another call for objects burning in the middle of Route 119 near Sun Cliff Road. With most units still finishing mop-up operations at the first fire, Engine 2 was released to respond and found a tire burning on the roadway’s center line. Crews quickly extinguished the blaze and cleared debris.

Rindge Fire Chief Rickard Donovan said the Route 119 fire is being investigated as an act of arson and noted that such behavior poses a serious risk to both the public and emergency responders — particularly during a statewide burn ban declared by Governor Ayotte on Sept. 22.

“This highly irresponsible and criminal act of arson needlessly presents enhanced hazards to our environment and responders,” the department said in a statement. “Under current dry conditions, fires can spread quickly and are difficult to extinguish.”

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Chief Donovan at the Rindge Fire Department at 603-899-3324 or the Rindge Police Department at 899-5009.

Responding units included Rindge Brush 1, Tanker 1, and Engine 2, along with Jaffrey Fire’s Brush 1 and command units. Six Rindge firefighters were on scene for the brush fire, and two responded to the Route 119 call.