MALABAR, Fla. -- Wildfires forced hundreds of people from their homes and shut down roads in Brevard County where two homes caught fire Sunday night. Firefighters said both homes were destroyed by the flames.

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SLIDESHOW: Images Show Destroyed Home, Huge Flames
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RAW VIDEO: House Destroyed By Brush Fire In Malabar

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One of the homes destroyed is on Corey Road in Malabar. Residents in the area said the homeowner lives out of state, but his daughter was at the house on Sunday packing up some belongings. The house (see map) was in the process of being sold. Initially, investigators thought the house fire may have been suspicious, but later said they believe it was caused by the brush fire.

Neighbors were thankful that their homes were not destroyed by the threatening flames.

"We went in the house thinking it was over with. Then all of a sudden it was going strong again," said Claire Brule, a concerned homeowner.

It's the last thing concerned homeowners needed on a windy morning. Flames as tall as 50 feet were swallowing up one acre after another.

"It came right up to our fence," said Brule.

The wildfire had already destroyed one home when it aggressively approached Philip and Claire Brule's home in Malabar.

"We really, really thought we were going to lose it this time," Philip said. "The embers were laying right across the whole roof there."

The fire is one of eight fires Brevard County crews have been fighting since 1:30 Sunday afternoon. Arson investigators in Palm Bay suspect one person is responsible.

"We have an eyewitness who says he saw a black Hyundai with specialty rims and a spoiler on the back throw something out the window to an open field. A few minutes later the fire stated. We're looking into that very closely," said Ernie Dieble, an arson investigator with the Palm Bay Police Department.

"It's horrible. I don't know why anyone would want to do anything like that," added Joyce Jones, a concerned homeowner.

Residents were keeping a close eye on the fire, as well. They're standing by with garden hoses just in case the flames get too close.

"We lucked out. We lucked out," Philip Brule said.

Investigators were offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information on who may have started the fires, but have doubled the amount to $10,000.