MIDDLEBURY — The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department and the Middlebury Fire Department are investigating three fires they suspect may be arson.

Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters responded to a vehicle and house fire located in the 53200 block of Hilltop Drive in Middlebury at about 3 a.m. Sunday morning. Middlebury Fire Chief Jeff Wogoman said the initial report was of a car on fire that had been parked next to a house. The fire then extended to the back of the house but the owner and a neighbor were able to put if off.

While officials were investigating the cause of the fire, a second house fire was reported in the 35100 block of Hilltop Drive.

Wogoman said they were told initially that it was a trash can on fire, before it extended to the house.

No one was injured on wither of the fires. While the car was a total loss both houses suffered only from minor damage.

Officials are investigating other fires that happened in the area over the last few months, which Wogoman said it’s not determined whether they are related to the most recent fires.

On May 17, the fire department responded to a vehicle and house fire in the 12300 block of Pine Cone Drive. A van that was parked outside caught fire and the flames spread to the house.

The Sheriff and Fire Departments are also investigating three fires that happened in that area on March 28. Between 4:07 and 5:41 a.m., the fire department responded to a vehicle fire in the 53300 block of Palmetto Drive, a shed fire in the 53200 block of Hilltop Drive and a house fire in the 53100 block of Palmetto Drive. The Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office is helping in the investigation.

Authorities are asking anyone with information related to any of the fires to call the Sheriff’s Department at 574-533-4151 or the Middlebury Fire Department at (574) 825-1484.