LIBERTY (AP) — Authorities say an Amite County volunteer firefighter died Saturday while fighting a wildfire east of Liberty.

East Central Volunteer Fire Department Chief Cam Sharp, who also is the county coroner, said  57-year-old Dwight Hilton of the East Fork community went into cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at a McComb hospital.

Sharp says the fire began around 12:30 p.m. on the north side of Mississippi 24. He says the fire covered less than 10 acres, but the woods and grass fire was a threat to some houses. The fire was put out.

Hilton was a longtime volunteer for East Central.

Authorities say it appears the fire was started in three different places and they are not ruling out arson while the investigation is underway.