The incident took place around 4 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, two days before the devasting Shakespeare Theater fire, at the gas station on the corner of Stratford and Beardsley avenues, said Stratford Det. Glen McGlynn.
The man, a suspected firebug, was seen dancing in front of the flames before he fled the area, police said.
Coincidentally, another fire was set just two hours later in the back of B.J.'s where a pile of lumber was set ablaze, McGlynn said.
"Unfortunately, we didn't have cameras surveillance available in that incident," he said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Glen McGlynn at 203-385-4126 or gmcglynn@townofstratford.com.
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