Investigators are hoping the public will help them identify a man who is accused of starting a fire that torched through a Seattle auto shop last week.
Investigators are hoping the public will help them identify a man who is accused of starting a fire that torched through a Seattle auto shop last week.
The fire happened July 28 at Ant's Community Garage at Rainier Avenue South and South Massachusetts Street.
“My goal is to get answers; I want to find this guy," said Alastair Flynn, the owner of the garage. "It’s really alarming that someone can come into your world like this and tear it down.”
The garage let customers rent space and tools to complete car repairs. It's Flynn's second location, which he says was starting to take off before the fire.
“The Seattle community was hungry for a place like this, and this was the space we found to serve them," he said.
Surveillance video shows a man walk into the shop and past the front counter at 1 p.m. with a bottle or container in his left hand.
The man enters the shop's bathroom and remains there for one minute before he comes running out as an explosion is seen coming out of the door.
Image shows suspect in July 28 arson at Ant's Community Garage in Seattle (Photo: Ant's Community Garage)“Watching him jump through the doorway and almost get caught up in it, that was pretty amazing," Flynn said.
The suspect ran off, got into a white SUV, and drove off, Flynn said. Employees and customers evacuated while calling 911.
Seattle fire crews arrived and contained the fire to the office area of the shop.
Firefighters respond to fire at Ant's Community Garage on July 28, 2026 (KOMO)People in the community have been raising funds to help the shop, which has been forced to close the Seattle location.
Flynn said a building inspector is scheduled to come to the shop this week and determine if the structure can be salvaged.
Seattle police ask anyone who recognizes the suspect to call (206) 625-5011.
