A rash of fires that damaged four Niles homes early Monday morning are being considered suspicious by local authorities.

Niles City Fire Captain Don Wise said it appears three separate fires destroyed or partially destroyed four homes: a vacant home on the corner of 13^th Street and Wayne Street; a vacant home in the 1600 block of Cass Street; and two occupied homes located next to one another in the 1300 block of Louis Street.

Wise said Niles fire and police units were dispatched to a residential fire in the 1600 block of Cass Street around 3 a.m. Monday.

About 30 minutes later, another fire call went out for a home in the 1300 block of Louis Street. Ten minutes after that, another fire was reported at a home on the corner of 13^th and Wayne.

All of the homes involved are located within a few blocks of one another.

“All these fires are suspicious until ruled otherwise because of the nature of three calls at once,” Wise said.

When fire crews arrived at the second reported fire at 1329 Louis Street, the fire had already spread to the neighboring home to the west.

Matt Kidwell, of South Bend, said his mother, LuAnn Meyers, lives at 1329 Louis Street with her husband, Don. Kidwell’s two daughters, Emily, 7, and Avery, 5, were staying with the Meyers the morning of the fire.

Kidwell received a call from LuAnn around 4 a.m. and immediately came to Niles.

“You don’t ever want to get a call like that,” Kidwell said. “I knew they were out already, but obviously after the fact you think about what could’ve happened, and that’s the scary part.”

Kidwell said his mother woke to a loud popping noise. She went to check on the grandchildren and noticed the garage was on fire. All four in the home and the family dog were able to escape without injury, Kidwell said.

The fire destroyed two vehicles and much of the Meyers’ home. Kidwell said the Meyers are now staying with relatives.

Wise said he believes the second fire began at the Meyers’ home and spread to a home neighboring it to the west. Frank Zavitz, of Niles, said his mother, Pauline, 89, lives in the home to the west, but she wasn’t there the morning of the fire. She was in the hospital dealing with a medical issue unrelated to the fire.

Wise said a Niles City Firefighter was taken to the hospital for chest pains related to exhaustion. The firefighter is expected to be all right.

Wise said more than 40 firefighters from several agencies assisted, including Niles Township, Berrien Springs, Dowagiac, Pokagon, Buchanan, Howard, Bertrand and Clay.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for helping,” Wise said.

Niles fire and police investigators are currently investigating the fires. The state fire marshal has been contacted, Wise said.

Wise encourages anyone with information related to the fires to contact Niles police.