Dumb Arsonist Tries to Burn Down NYC Gas Station, Almost Sets Fire to Himself

The man is now in custody, because, in trying to set fire to the 7-Eleven on Richmond Avenue in Staten Island, he nearly set himself ablaze as well. He managed to survive, but he’s in hospital with internal throat injuries, the NY Daily News reports.

Video from the surveillance cameras is available at the bottom of the page. A store clerk told the cops that the young man came inside the shop and asked to buy a canister and $40 worth of gasoline. Ironically, the store clerk told him that this was too much gas to fit in the can, but the man assured him that he had a car parked outside.

Police officers told the media outlet that he had arrived at the gas station in a blue minivan. He lied about having a car, though: as you can see in the video, he filled the can with gas and then removed the hose and splashed gas on the ground, all around him.

When he was done, he took the receipt from the store and lit it up. However, the wannabe arsonist didn’t count on such a powerful blaze, so when he bent down to set fire to the gas, his face was surrounded by flames, too.

The footage shows him able to run away from the blaze, just before the fire suppression system turns on and puts the blaze out completely.

The man is now being treated at the Richmond University Medical Center; he is in serious but stable condition. The NYPD is urging anyone with information about his identity to come forward: at the time of the incident, on Monday, he was wearing “a light long-sleeved shirt, dark shorts and dark slippers.”