Vancouver police are looking for an arsonist after three deliberately set fires that happened just hours apart on Sunday.

All three happened at businesses in the downtown core between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

The first fire was set inside a business on Robson Street near Bute Street. The second happened an hour later inside a washroom at 1160 Davie Street. The last happened two hours later at a Subway restaurant in Yaletown, on Mainland near Nelson Street.

In all cases, police say the suspect entered the washroom and started fire to the rubbish in the garbage bin. Damages aren’t significant, but could have been much worse, say police.

Police believe the same man is responsible. He is described as white, in his mid to late 20s with short brown hair. In each case he was seen wearing a brown, hooded sweatshirt.

Officers are expected to canvas local businesses to see if anyone captured the suspect on surveillance footage.

With files from CTV Vancouver’s Nafeesa Karim