A couple and their two children fled a Halifax apartment Monday night as it became engulfed in flames after police say a man firebombed the building and then drove off.

Police and firefighters were called to the two-unit building at the corner of Quinn Street and Chebucto Road at 11:30 p.m.

The fire was deliberately set by an unknown man who pulled up in a white sedan, threw an "incendiary device" and then took off down Quinn Street, according to a Halifax Regional Police news release.

Residents of a two-unit Halifax apartment were chased from the building by fire on Monday night. 0:30

None of the people inside the apartment building were injured. An upstairs tenant was away at the time. Canadian Red Cross volunteers arranged emergency lodging, food and clothing for the couple and their children. The Red Cross said the children are a 12-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy.

Police said early Tuesday morning they were still searching for the driver of the white car.

'It was pretty scary looking'

Matthew Moroney, who lives near the building, said he heard shouting Monday night and saw cars parked in the street.

"It just didn't look right, so I went outside and saw the house was on fire," he said.

Moroney said the front porch of the house was already engulfed when he went to take a look.

"It was pretty scary looking. The windows were smashing from the heat — not anything that anybody would be able to fight with a fire extinguisher, that's for sure."

Investigation continues

Forensic identification and arson investigators continue to work the scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers.