A Capitol Avenue man awoke to a crash at his front door and found a wall of flames shortly before 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Laronton Ross, 26, kicked open the screen door in time to hear a car speed away, according to a Macon police report.

Investigators determined a Molotov cocktail made from a beer bottle burst into flames on the porch near the door and caught a small, red plastic trash can on fire.

A small section of a carpet mat was charred near the door before Ross kicked the burning trash can off the porch.

He extinguished the melting waste bin in the driveway of house in the 4200 block of the street that runs parallel to Houston Avenue in south Macon.

Macon-Bibb County District Fire Chief Nathaniel Hall said he doesn’t understand why someone would toss a fire bomb onto the family’s porch.

“They say they haven’t had any problems with anyone,” Hall said.

A fire investigator took pictures and gathered evidence. Macon police also are investigating the incident.

A woman who answered the door at the home declined comment.

Witnesses reported seeing two Bud Light bottles with paper inside them on the front porch of a vacant apartment across the street.

Anyone with information is asked to call Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at (877) 68-CRIME.

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303.