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String of north side garage fires sparks investigation

Posted at 6:20 PM, Sep 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-24 19:20:59-04

Garage fires aren't uncommon or a cause for suspicion, but, when three separate fires broke out around 3 a.m. Monday morning, the Milwaukee Fire Department launched an investigation.

The department says the three fires are central to one area on the northwest side of Milwaukee.

Neighbors did share the name of one victim who's garage was burned to the ground. However, law enforcement hasn't confirmed their identity. Next door neighbor Joan Love says some of her property was damaged by the fire. 

"My husband's car was--truck was burning up and then it touched my garage," said Love. 

She's lived in the neighborhood for nearly 30 years. Love says she's looking into getting surveillance cameras installed.   

"We never had this type of problems before. I don't know what's going on. I just thank god for our neighbor really, I truly do," said Love. 

Her neighborhood pride is shared by Scott Napoli, who's lived in his home for more than 15 years.  

"I can't, I can't get it in my brain wrapped around the idea that someone would just vandalize it," said Napoli. 

Napoli says he's just glad that no one was hurt. Things can be replaced, but people cannot. 

The fire department says three fires are unusual and it's why the situation is under investigation. But the department won't say if the fires are connected or if it's arson.

What is confirmed is that damage caused by the infernos totals more than $30,000.