CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fire investigators say three early morning fires in southwest Charlotte were intentionally set. Now, they are working to find out who did it.
Floyd Smith owns one of the homes that burned Wednesday morning. His brother-in-law owns the one that burned next door. They both had been vacant for years and the power was off.
But early Wednesday morning, both homes and a storage building between them burned.
Investigators estimate there's about $200,000 worth of damage.
"It's arson, they're sure it is, I'm sure it is. They showed me, somebody set the fire, all of it," Smith said.
Smith said the homes were on the market, so at this point they will likely have to tear them down and try to sell the land.
"It's going to hurt, going to hurt but what else can you do," he said.
For people who live on Nations Ford Road, what happened Wednesday morning takes them back to Jan. 29. That's when five fires burned in a matter of a few hours in nearby Dumpsters and a tire company. All were ruled arson. Police say no arrests have been made.
Chris McClure owns a business nearby. He hopes Smith and his family get answers soon.
"The truth will come out. You can't hide for long," McClure said.
As investigators continue to put the pieces together, Smith and his family will do what they can to pick the pieces up.
"Clean up, go from there," Smith said.
Eyewitness News asked investigators if Wednesday’s fires and the ones in January are connected. They said it's too soon to know.