Besides the high-cylinder BMW, bins and a bus stop were also set on fire. Faro firefighters received the first reports of fires at around 7am on Cidade de Hayward Avenue, coincidentally not far from where the fire station is located.
A bin and the BMW were found burning on the street, which is one of the main thoroughfares through Faro.
A short while later, another fire was reported in the Rio Seco area, on the way out of Faro towards Olhão. Post boxes and a bus stop were on fire, and in this instance the flames spread to a nearby spot of scrubland, causing a small wildfire.
No one was injured in the fires, which were initially being investigated by PSP police, but due to suspicion of arson, have been passed on to the PJ police.