New London — Police on Wednesday charged an 8-year-old boy suspected of setting fires in an apartment complex on Eugene O’Neill Drive with setting a fire inside a car parked nearby.

Fire Marshal Vernon Skau said that about 10 p.m. July 26, firefighters went to 286 Eugene O'Neill Drive, where the child allegedly set fire to the back door of one of the apartments.

Skau said a custodian told them he had discovered other apparent burns on the front door and in the hallway and common area of the same apartment just a couple days earlier.

The child allegedly lit newspaper on fire to start each minor blaze.

Skau said firefighters learned from police on July 30 that another fire had been started in a similar way inside a car outside 47 Federal St., which is less than a mile away.

The fire didn’t ignite the car, Skau said, but did cause minor damage inside.

Firefighters worked with police and property managers to obtain video of the car fire and identify the child. He faces charges of reckless burning and criminal mischief.

Court information was not available. Most juvenile matters cases in Connecticut are confidential.