Frank Escalera of Milton rolled over in bed about 2:30 a.m. Friday and awoke to strange glow outside his window.

It was his beloved 2007 blue-gray Mercedes in his driveway. Flames were creeping from the trunk to the hood.

"I thought, 'This can't be,'" he said Friday as he stared at the ash and ruin that remained. He fought the blaze with a hose before firefighters arrived but the car was damaged beyond recovery. Then he heard the clincher.

"A firefighter told me I was the third one," Escalera said. "I couldn't believe it."

In fact, there were six incidents involving Molotov cocktails -- incendiary devices made of gasoline-filled bottles plugged with rags -- starting at 10:30 p.m. Thursday until 2:30 a.m. Friday. Three cars were heavily damaged. Two driveways were set on fire.

Another device was found that caused no damage, according to Milton authorities. There were no injuries and no damage to homes.

Officials believe it was random. Of the cars destroyed, two were Mercedes, one was a Honda. Two incidents were in the Fairmont subvision, one was nearby. One of the victims works at Macy's, one is a schoolteacher and one is an airport baggage handler. None claim to know of any enemies they might have. All the cars were parked in driveways.

Police say a witness saw a noisy Ford or Chevrolet pickup in the area of one of the firebombings.

Another victim, who asked to be identified only as "Joe," said there were cars parked all along his street when his leased 2006 Honda was torched.

"Why did he pick mine?" he asked.

As he walked from the mailbox, past the scorched driveway, he shook his head and said: "What's the matter with people?"

Anyone with information can call Milton Fire Capt. John Dancsecs at 404-867-2195.