Image | ns-porterslake-fire-aerial

Caption: The fire did not start naturally, but officials aren't saying whether it was deliberately set. ((CBC))

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Investigators are trying to determine whether a forest fire that forced nearly 5,000 people to flee their homes near Dartmouth last weekend was started by accident or was deliberately set.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources confirmed Tuesday that the fire was man-made but didn't give further details.

If warranted, charges could be laid, said department spokeswoman Jennifer Gavin.

"We have a great ability to trace the origin of the burn right back to where it originated from and we are making some great progress," she said.

The fired burned about 1,925 hectares, covering a wooded area between Lake Echo and Porters Lake that stretched down to the southeast of Mineville along Lawrencetown Lake.

Though the fire is now considered stable, about 50 firefighters remained on the ground throughout Tuesday tackling several hot spots.

"They're working on keeping it stable," said Gavin. "With any hot sun, it has the potential to flare up."

Gavin said the department's five helicopters are also surveying the area, but a large water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador that had been on standby was released late Tuesday.

Several homes were evacuated Friday because of a brush fire in the Porters Lake area. High winds fanned the flames, and the blaze grew, forcing more people in the rural region out of their homes.

The CL 215 water bomber from Newfoundland was brought in to help, along with a larger CL 415 water bomber from Quebec and three air tankers from New Brunswick.

At one point, there were 78 firefighters and four pilots from Natural Resources on the scene.

Two homes were destroyed in the fire, but there were no reports of injuries.

Most of the evacuees were allowed to return home Sunday evening after firefighters made significant progress. The remaining 50 families were told they could go home Monday afternoon.

An RCMP spokesman said Monday that investigators believe the fire started north of a trailer park in Lake Echo.