Fire inspectors and Victoria police are investigating three suspicious fires within a two-block radius on Halloween night.
There were no injuries, but the estimated damage to property is over $100,000.
The first fire, in the 310 block of Alder Street, was reported about 9:15 p.m. in a camping trailer parked at a residence. The fire was contained to the trailer and caused minimal damage.
Fire crews were still mopping up when a second fire started in a standalone garage in the same block about 9:40 p.m., said Victoria Fire Department acting battalion chief Oscar Pohl.
Crews responded and knocked down the fire quickly, said battalion chief Greg Batters.
“There was significant damage to the garage, which also contained a vehicle which was destroyed.”
The garage was at the back of a property, close to the main residence. The heat of the flames melted the home’s exterior vinyl siding.
About 17 firefighters equipped with two engine trucks, a ladder truck and a rescue truck were called out to extinguish the fire.
At 1:20 a.m., firefighters were called to a fence and vehicle on fire, Pohl said.
“By the time the third fire came on, [our fire inspector] deemed the fires to be suspicious,” he said.
The fire inspector is working with the Victoria police forensic identification team.
“Due to the timeline and the close proximity, that’s why they’re drawing the conclusion that they could be related,” Pohl said.
