"It lit up the whole second story of our house,” Eric Hansen said. “You could even feel the heat coming from it. The flames had to be as tall as the trees that were around it. It was pretty intense."
The garage used to be a storage facility, but now it's just ashes and scrap metal. And would you believe it's only one stop on this arson spree through Eaton Rapids.
"Seemed like he was just picking random places trying to light a match," Levi Polihonki said.
Because it all started with an abandoned shed on Water Street. Hardly anything is left, the flames charred the fence as well.
"It's kind of scary,” Kyle Locke said. “I have a shed and this building next door is vacant."
Eaton Rapids fire quickly put the flames out, that's when they discovered footprints in the snow leading them to the garage fire a few blocks away.
"It was crazy,” Polihonki said. “I was up and there were sirens going across and i thought something major was happening."
Police found Shane Tracer nearby, who's since been charged with breaking and entering and arson preparation. That morning investigators say Tracer also tried breaking into buildings and cars on Main Street. Watch this surveillance footage: a man walks toward the right side of the car and quickly tries to open the door.
"It's a little nerve-wracking," Locke said.
Police say he also tried kicking in the door to Fahrenheit salon unsuccessfully, one woman who works there says she knew Tracer and that all this was out of his character.
"He was respectful, he was in here a week ago,” Carrie Wiltse said. “We liked him. I just never would've guessed this is something he would've done... Ever."
And in a close community like Eaton Rapids, this crime spree caught people off guard.
"Especially a small town like this,” Locke said. “It's not what you expect."
The Eaton County prosecutor's office tells us the investigation is not over and Tracer could be charged with more crimes. We'll let you know if that happens.
