Southern California authorities were searching Thursday for an arsonist who set himself on fire while trying to blow up a car.
The man was caught on doorbell camera footage torching a black sedan, which burst into flames. After the initial burst of light subsided, the alleged arsonist could be seen also ablaze. Clearly feeling a sense of urgency, he leaped over a fence and ran out of frame, dousing as he went.
The car, which was parked in a driveway in Corona, about 45 miles east of Los Angeles, continued to burn.
The incident took place “in the early morning hours” of Tuesday, the Corona Fire Department and Corona Police Department said in a joint statement.
“Units arrived on scene to find a vehicle on fire in the front yard of the residence,” the departments said. “The fire destroyed the vehicle and caused moderate damage [to] the residence. Video from the resident’s Ring camera captured a Caucasian or Hispanic male suspect, intentionally set the vehicle and subsequently himself on fire.”
Investigators believe the suspect is in his 30s of medium build, 5’9” to 6’1” tall, with shoulder-length, light-colored hair. He fled the scene in a white Chevrolet or GMC pickup truck with tinted windows and light-colored rims, authorities said.
As of Thursday, the suspect was still at large and unidentified, with police asking the public for help. Arson investigators were at a loss regarding a motive.
“For now, we think this is a random act of violence,” Corona Fire Capt. Daniel Yonan told the Los Angeles Times. “He’s still on the loose.”
Doorbell cameras have captured more than one arsonist setting himself on fire. In December, in Levittown on Long Island, a man ignited a porta potty outside a house under construction, then ran off down the street, blazing away. The fire heavily damaged the front yard and part of the home.