RUMFORD – Two firetrucks and nearly a dozen firefighters responded to a series of small fires at the side of Route 2 between Rumford Center and Rumford Point early Tuesday afternoon.

Fire Chief Gary Wentzell said only dry leaves burned. He had not found the cause of the fires, which happened within a half-mile of each other, although he speculated that a walker or a biker may have started them.

He said firefighters from Hebron and Norway, who were passing through town, helped out, as did an employee who was driving a Central Maine Power Co. truck along the highway.

The call came into the Rumford fire station at about 1:30 p.m.