DOERUN, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is investigating a recent fire at the Doerun Pitcher Plant Bog that damaged some of the infrastructure.

Mark McKinnon, public affairs officer with the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division, said the investigation showed someone tried to burn some trash on the site, which is a Wildlife Management Area owned by the State of Georgia. The fire got out of hand and damaged a kiosk and a couple of boardwalks.

“The actual wildlife habitat was not damaged,” McKinnon said.

Warrants have been taken, but McKinnon declined to identify the suspect as he hasn’t been arrested yet. The warrants charge him with second degree criminal damage, interfering with government property and burning of woodlands.

McKinnon did not know whether the charges were misdemeanors or felonies, but the Georgia code sections he referenced indicate the criminal damage charge could bring a 1- to 5-year sentence; the burning of woodlands charge could bring a 1- to 5-year sentence, a fine of up to $10,000, or both; and the interference with government property charge could be a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on circumstances.

The Doerun Pitcher Plant Wildlife Management Area, located two miles south of Doerun on Highway 133, was donated to the state by Thomas “Tommy” Barber in 1996. It was part of his family’s farm, where he and his wife photographed the colorful pitcher plants and other wildlife.

For more information about the WMA, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/doerun-pitcherplant-bog-wma.