Centralia firefighters were busy Sunday night, with back-to-back fires at vacant homes.

According to Fire Chief John Lynch, the first call came in at 8:18 p.m. Sunday for a fire to the detached garage at 1118 South Locust.

Upon arrival firefighters found the garage was fully involved. Witnesses said an individual was seen running from the scene just moments before the fire erupted.

Lynch says that as firefighters were knocking down the blaze to the garage, smoke was noted coming from the house. Initially it was thought that the house had caught fire from the garage but it became evident it had been set separately.

All shifts were ultimately called in to fight fires in both structures and the State Fire Marshal was called to investigate.

Firefighters remained on the scene until just after 10:30 p.m., with Lynch remaining on scene to maintain control until the Fire Marshall arrived.

However, ESDA had to take control of the scene and wait for the Fire Marshal, as another fire call came in around 11:35 p.m. of a fire to a mobile home at 435 South Hickory.

The home’s owner is deceased and the long-vacant property had already been condemned by the city.

The South Hickory Street fire is considered suspicious and is also under investigation. Firefighters remained on that scene until 1:45 a.m.

Centralia Fire Protection District was called out to the first fire to put out hot spots while City firefighters were at the second scene.

Centralia police continue to look for the suspect reported as having fled from the scene of the first fire.