A garden shed was set alight during an early-morning blaze in the same street where gunshots were fired less than a fortnight ago.
The incident happened around 2.20am yesterday on Munro Walk in Saltcoats.
The fire was extinguished and North Ayrshire police confirmed that nobody had been injured.
A probe into what has been described as wilful fire-raising is underway and officers are appealing for people with information to come forward.
Police believe what happened is linked to gunshots being fired in Munro Walk around 7.30pm on Saturday, August 13, which was one of three incidents across Ardrossan and Saltcoats in the space of 48 hours.
That investigation is still ongoing as is the probe into a car fire on McDowall Avenue, Ardrossan, around 11pm on Friday, August 12. Earlier that day, a man was seriously assaulted on Eglinton Road at Dalry Road in the town. Two men have since been arrested in connection with that matter.
Inspector Stuart Dougan said: “Luckily, no one was injured as a result of this fire, however, the consequences could have been much more serious.
“At this early stage, we believe that this fire is linked to a previous incident in Munro Walk on Saturday, August 13, where gunshots were heard.
“Additional patrols are continuing in this area as our investigation continues and I would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in or around the area of Munro Walk in the early hours of Wednesday morning, or who has any information that will assist us, to contact 101 with reference 0227 of 24 August.
"Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
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