Despite steady rain, two suspicious house fires broke out at 17th and Penn Streets Thursday afternoon.

The fire call came in around 1:15 p.m. and involved structures located at 1106 S. 17th St. and 1110 S. 17th St. Police blocked off a two-block area and diverted traffic to fight the blaze.

According to St. Joseph Fire Dept. investigator Steve Henrichson, the fire started in a back bedroom of the house at 1106 S. 17th St. The house had been vacant for some time. That blaze spread to the structure at 1110 S. 17th St., which housed some possessions of the former tennants, a couple and their three children. The family was not living in the house at the time of the blaze, and the property's owner, Harley Kimler, said the he had recently evicted the family.

"It's just really sad because we had lived there for 15 years," Mr. Kimler said. He added that he moved out three years to a larger home but kept the house as a rental property and possibly to give to his children.

Mr. Henrichson estimated the damages to 1106 S. 17th St. at between $5,000 to $10,000 range. He said the damages to the second house at 1110 S. 17th St. were between $30,000 to $34,000.

Mr. Henrichson said he does suspect arson and expected law enforcement officials to investigate further.

Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo