Two fires that engulfed homes in Launceston overnight, destroying one home and causing significant damage to another, were deliberately lit, the Tasmania Fire Service has confirmed.
The first fire broke out just after 10:30pm on Saturday, engulfing a vacant house on Mayfield Street.
While no one was hurt, the blaze caused significant damage.
The TFS said their initial investigation pointed to the fire being deliberately lit and they have handed the matter over to Tasmania Police for further investigation.
Shortly after midnight, firefighters were called to another blaze 500 metres away on Box Street.
By the time they arrived, the house was completely engulfed in flames.
The TFS confirmed the Box Street house was a total loss, with damage estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
An investigation into the cause of this fire is ongoing.
The TFS said there is currently no evidence linking the two incidents.
