SOUTH SALT LAKE — The inside of a Rite Aid store was completely covered with smoke stains after a man set fire to a decorative gift bag in the greeting card section Wednesday afternoon.

Rite Aid workers first thought fireworks had been set off in the building.

"We got reports that there was a popping noise and that a firework may have been set off," said South Salt Lake Fire Chief Steve Foote. However, after reviewing the tapes, the fire fighters saw that the problem was a man with a lighter and a bag. He ran out of the store after setting fire to the bag, so far as firefighters can tell, Foote said.

"We have a suspect and we're looking for him," he said.

The entire interior of the Rite Aid at 635 E. 3300 South sustained smoke damage and a small fire was still burning inside when firefighters arrived minutes after the 3:27 p.m. call, Foote said. Automatic sprinklers kept the blaze contained but caused some water damage to the store, he said.

Nearby businesses were also filled with smoke.

— Michael R. McFall