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Firefighters battled two fires in southwest Mecklenburg County Friday afternoon.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. -- Flames broke out in southwest Mecklenburg County Friday afternoon igniting two house fires and the dry, windy conditions worked against firefighters.

The wall of flame devoured nine acres in a matter of minutes and was clearly hungry for more.

"All of the trees were on fire and I saw fire crawling down the hill towards the house," said Mary Eld, homeowner.

A shed containing paint products and gasoline blew up. It belonged to Wayne Simpson and his 16-year-old son will was home alone at the time of the fire.

"I was so scared when I walked out that door and I saw the fire. I almost started crying,” Simpson said.

But he quickly grabbed a garden hose and went to work.

"I started spraying the roof ‘cause the volunteer firefighter told me to spray the roof to keep the house from catching on fire,” Simpson said.

Other neighbors put out hotspots in their yards. But obviously the heavy lifting was done by the fire department.

Firefighters had to work quickly to save homes as the wind and flames worked against them. For a while it appeared to be a losing battle.

"Me and the other neighbors watching the fire come towards our homes and I felt very helpless,” Eld said.

Two homes were damaged in the fire. The siding of one of the homes buckled a little bit, but there was no major damage.