Authorities reached out to the public Wednesday for help in identifying a man who sparked a blaze that caused an estimated $2 million worth of damage in a Vista commercial district.
The arson fire erupted in an alley behind a market in the 400 block of North Santa Fe Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. on Jan. 17 and quickly spread to nearby businesses, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
The blaze forced evacuations of several apartments above the grocery store but caused no reported injuries.
The man who set the fire was described as a heavyset Latino in his 20s to mid-30s with short, dark hair.
Anyone who might be able to help detectives track down the perpetrator was asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or contact the agency online at sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
— City News Service