Three garage fires in Edmonton Thursday morning were all deliberately set and appear to be connected, say investigators.

In all three fires, garbage was set alight with flames spreading to the garages, says Edmonton Fire Rescue.

the fires kept Edmonton firefighters hopping with the first being started at 3:30 a.m., followed by the second fire at 4:30 a.m. and the third just before 6 a.m.

While one of the fires was at 79th Street and 98th Avenue, two others were in the same area near 135th Avenue and 127th Street.

The latest fire destroyed a garage where a mechanic made his living, said the man's grandson.

"This has been basically my grandfather's sanctuary for the past 30 years and this is where he makes his living," said Nicholas Pagnotta.

The latest fire was called in by firefighters leaving the earlier fire three blocks away, said fire chief Larry Walsh.

Exploding paint cans, heavy steel doors and steel I-beams attached to the roof of the garage made the fire difficult to fight, he said.

The total damage of all the fires is estimated at $140,000.

With files from CBC's Andrea Huncar