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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- A business owner, police officers and the fire department battled two suspicious fires in downtown Kirksville Monday night.

The bigger of the two fires happened in the alley next to the Wooden Nickel Restaurant.

Police said a bunch of cardboard in a recycling cage went up in flames shortly before 8 p.m.

The restaurant owner fought it with a fire extinguisher until the fire department could get there.

Police told KTVO the fire was put out quickly and didn't do any damage to the building.

At the same time as the cardboard fire, a city owned trash can a block away at the corner of Franklin and McPherson streets had a small fire in it.

Police officers put that fire out.

Police said the fires are suspicious because they happened at nearly the same time and so close together.

There are no suspects at this time, but the investigation continues.