A 12-year-old boy is facing aggravated arson and other charges following a fire at a supermarket over the weekend in Ocean City.

NJ.com reports the juvenile was arrested on Monday after authorities determined the fire in the parking garage under Acme on West Avenue was intentionally set around 1:00 Sunday afternoon.

The fire caused the store to be evacuated. Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control and damage was limited to the garage and the exterior of the building. No one was injured but the store remains closed as of Tuesday afternoon. The Ocean City Patch says it is "unclear" when the store would reopen, according to a spokesperson from Acme.

The boy has been charged with aggravated arson, failure to report a fire, risking widespread injury or damage, aggravated assault, and criminal mischief, reported NJ.com. He was released to the custody of his family pending juvenile court.

Pictures of smoke from the fire populated social media Sunday afternoon.

Stay away from ocean city acme! It’s on fire! Posted by Philip Scott on Sunday, November 15, 2020

 

Raging fire breaks out in what looks like the lower garage of Ocean City's Acme. Emergency response was on the scene immediately and huge crowds were seen fleeing.

Posted by Jessica A. Baez, BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors on Sunday, November 15, 2020

 

With previous reporting from Townsquare Media's Joe Kelly.

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