Arsonist Ignited 100 Log Boxes Outside Bel Air Safeway: Officials

BEL AIR, MD — An arson investigation is underway after a man lit a fire outside the Bel Air Safeway early Friday morning.

Surveillance footage from the shopping center shows the man committing the crime then running toward a nearby apartment complex, officials said. As of Friday night, authorities were asking for help identifying the arsonist.

After 2 a.m., the fire marshal said a man poured flammable liquid onto about 100 boxes of Duraflame firestarter logs. The stack was outside one of the doors to the supermarket in the Greenbrier Shopping Center.

Once he lit the logs on fire, officials said the man ran toward the Seasons at Bel Air apartments.

An overnight employee discovered the blaze in the 200 block of Brierhill Drive and tried to put it out with two fire extinguishers, investigators said.

"The fire rapidly grew beyond his control," the Office of the State Fire Marshal said in a statement. "Firefighters arrived and discovered a large fire just outside the entrance."

A sprinkler outside the building activated and helped contain the flames, according to the fire marshal, who said the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company controlled the blaze in about 10 minutes.

After reviewing surveillance footage from the nearby Dollar Tree and Hallmark area of the shopping center, officials said the arsonist was a thin man about 5 feet, 8 inches tall who appeared to be wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, face mask, dark pants and dark shoes.

Nobody was injured in the fire, which did not extend into the store, according to the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company.

The Bel Air Safeway store opened for business as usual, staff told Patch Friday.

Anyone with information about the arson may contact the Northeast Regional Office of the State Fire Marshal at 410-386-3050.