Fire investigators believe a boy with a lighter purposely started a fire Wednesday that damaged a Rite Aid store in South Salt Lake.

Security footage shows the 8- to 11-year-old taking a lighter from the store, at 635 E. 3300 South, and walking down a stationary and wrapping paper aisle, said South Salt Lake fire investigator Terry Addison. The footage does not show the spot where the fire started, but shows the boy running back up the aisle and throwing away the lighter, Addison said. The fire started six to eight minutes later, about 3:20 p.m., he said.

Initial reports suggested it was sparked by a firework.

The automatic sprinkler system kicked on and contained the damage to the aisle, but not before the store was evacuated, along with Hancock Fabrics and Checker Auto Parts stores. Smoke and water damage was estimated at about $20,000.

Investigators are trying to identify the youth.

Lindsay Whitehurst