Acting Inspector Sandy Green said occupants of both houses were sleeping at the time.

No one was injured when furniture was set alight in a carport in Cottee Street but the occupant of a Callaghan Street home was treated for minor burns after someone leaned through a broken window and set a curtain alight.

“Both fires are highly suspicious,” the inspector said.

“Police are treating it very seriously given these fires were lit when people were home asleep,” she said.