Macon-Bibb County firefighters battled two fires early Monday morning, including a deliberately set blaze in an abandoned house.

A dozen apartments were damaged after a kitchen fire at the Walnut Creek apartments in east Macon.

Fire dispatchers say the blaze began shortly after 1:30 a.m. in unit 204-A that was destroyed at the complex on Merriwood Drive.

Sgt. Ben Gleaton, a fire investigator, said someone left hot dogs cooking unattended, which started the fire.

Glenn Holden, 34, told Macon police he left the kitchen for a “short period of time,” according to a police report.

Police at the fire scene told Holden to stay near an officer’s patrol car while other witnesses were interviewed, but Holden walked away. Although he’s not suspected of intentionally starting the fire, Holden was issued a citation for hindering police, according to the report.

Two other apartments were damaged by flames, and nine others incurred smoke and water damage, Gleaton said. No one was hurt.

The apartments are near Walnut Creek off Kitchens Road behind Appling Middle School on Shurling Drive.

While mopping up at the complex at about 3:30 a.m., firefighters were called to another fire at 1027 Chatham St. near Houston Avenue.

A single-story, wood-frame house was fully engulfed when crews arrived.

Gleaton said there were no utilities hooked up at the house, which had burned before.

He determined an arsonist is to blame for the second fire.

Anyone with information is asked to call Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at (877) 68-CRIME, or the Georgia Arson Hotline at (800) 282-5804.

Writer Amy Leigh Womack contributed to this report. To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303.