Avon Fire and Rescue were called out to reports of a large fire after a number of wheelie bins and a skip were set alight on Bath Street in Bath early this morning.
When they arrived at 2.48am they were met with flames stretching above the garages near where the skip and wheelie bins were situated.
Fire crews used their high pressure hose reels to extinguish the fires, while local residents watched on in shock in nearby Arlington House.
The firefighters have been praised for their speed of response to the fire.
The fire brigade have referred the incident to Avon and Somerset Police as a potential arson attack and it will be further investigated.