Epping Woolies goes up in flames, customers forced to flee | 7NEWS

Stunned shoppers have been forced to flee after a customer set fire to groceries inside a Woolworths store in Epping.The drama during the busy dinner rush was all caught on camera.

As shoppers packed the aisles during the dinnertime rush, one woman allegedly began setting boxes of groceries alight.sparking multiple fires in different aisles.

The girl went up and said, I want to go to jail.

Within seconds, flames engulfed the shelves inside Woolworths at Epping, sending smoke billowing through the store.

The flames were getting quite big as well.And yeah, pretty crazy, really.

Staff tried to put the blazers out, but they reignited.It took fireys 20 minutes to douse the flames.

They end up evacuating.everybody out of the whole shopping centre.

Security guards detained the alleged arsonist here until police arrived.The 25 -year -old woman from Roxborough Park was taken to hospital under police guard.The supermarket remained closed for most of today.Woolworths saying it's incredibly thankful that no injuries have been reported.We want to extend our sincere thanks to our team members who acted quickly.

Staff were amazing to have been as calm as they were.

Police won't be able to interview the alleged arsonist until she's discharged from hospital, so no charges have been laid.Christy Meyer, Seven News.