D.C. fire and police officials are investigating possible arson after four mopeds were found burning in Southeast early Thursday morning.

Firefighters found four scooters in flames at about 1:15 a.m. in the 5000 block of B Street Southeast, Vito Maggiolo, spokesman for D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, told independent local TV station WDVM-TV.

Doorbell camera footage from across the street from the fire showed people walking toward a house and the scooters, the fire starting up and the people running away.

A neighbor named Mike, who did not provide a last name, told NBC affiliate WRC-TV that the accused arsonists “doused the bikes with gasoline from a little spray bottle.” He helped put out the fire and called 911, adding that “if that fire would have gotten to the gas tank or to the batteries, it could have been worse.”

“I felt bad, I felt helpless. I wasn’t able to do anything,” one of the moped owners, delivery driver Jefferson Arias, told WDVM-TV through a translator. “We don’t mess with anyone. We just got home from work and left the scooters there. We don’t understand why they did this to us.”

Another driver, Junior Valera, told WRC-TV in Spanish: “We use these to work, to eat. To pay rent, help our families. Without them, how? We can’t.”

Fire officials asked that anyone with information to call the arson hotline at 202-673-ARSON (2776).

The Metropolitan Police Department, which is also investigating the incident, told WDVM-TV that anyone with information should call 202-727-9099 or text the police tip line at 50411.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.