Three teens have been arrested on charges of setting a fire and vandalizing cars in Bel Air Friday, authorities said.

But the suspects are not believed to be connected to the string of almost 40 minor arsons in and around Bel Air since December, the State Fire Marshal’s Office said.

The three teens allegedly started throwing eggs and bottles at parked cars around 2 a.m. in the 1300 block of Saratoga Drive in Bel Air, said Joe Zurolo, deputy state fire marshal.

Firefighters found a large plastic garbage container had been set on fire in the middle of the road.

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Witnesses led investigators to stop a green vehicle near Ring Factory Road and Route 24.

Two 16-year-olds and one 17-year-old admitted to investigators that they had set the fire and thrown the objects at the cars, Zurolo said. Damage to the trash can was estimated at $300, but investigators were still tallying the damage to the cars.

The latest fire appeared similar to the series of other arsons police believe teens set, including at least one other fire set that night, Zurolo.

“Our guys feel pretty confident after interrogating these three that these were the only incidents they’re involved with,” Zurolo said.

“As for the other 37 [arsons], we still have some individuals of interest. We just don’t yet have anything concrete enough to charge.”

Two other fires occurred Thursday night and early Friday, Zurolo said.

On Friday, a plastic mailbox on Whitney Lane in Bel Air was set on fire, and that arson may be connected with the series of others, Zurolo said.

And mulch at a playground behind Hall’s Crossroads Elementary in Aberdeen was ignited around 7:30 Thursday evening.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com