Champaign police and fire officials are investigating a fire they believe was intentionally set by an unknown offender Monday afternoon.

According to a fire department report, firefighters were dispatched to a fire in a garage at 2001 Cypress Drive around 5:18 p.m. When the department arrived, the garage was “fully involved” and smoke and flames could be seen from the exterior, said Deputy Fire Chief Tim Wild. Radiant heat from the garage melted the exterior siding of both homes near the garage, 2001 and 1909 Cypress Drive.

The garage was separate from the house, not attached.

Ann Little was listed as the resident of 2001 Cypress. She was not home at the time of the fire and the other home was vacant, Wild said.

The damage to the garage was estimated at $43,000, to Little’s home at $10,000 and to the adjacent residence at $8,000.

Wild could not specify what led to the conclusion that the fire was set intentionally.