Authorities Working Around the Clock to Solve Arson Incidents

Authorities reassured the public Sunday morning that they are working around the clock to catch the suspect or suspects responsible for dozens of suspicious blazes, many set to cars in Los Angeles.

Officials are asking residents to report any suspicious activity immediately and advised residents to keep porch or garage lights on at night.

So far investigators are looking into at least 32 incidents in Los Angeles including Hollywood, and the Fairfax District and seven incidents in West Hollywood. No suspect description or new leads were available at a media briefing held Sunday morning in front of the Los Angeles Fire Department Station 27 at 1327 N. Cole Ave.

“We are going to work tirelessly. We take this as basically an attack on the heart and soul of these firefighters and public safety officers,” said LAFD Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Butler. “We’re not going to rest, and we’re going to put all of our resources out there.”

with five in the city of Los Angeles and two in West Hollywood. One fire was reported  in a carport at an apartment complex at 1035 N. Sweetzer Avenue in West Hollywood and another in a parking structure at Hollywood & Highland. The L.A. Times interviewed Candy McHenry who was inside the parking structure when the fire erupted.

Authorities had no video tape to release or suspect descriptions at the media briefing attended by attended by police and fire officials from the City of Los Angeles and adjacent West Hollywood, where county agencies provide public safety under contract with that city. A reward totals $60,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect or suspects.   

Detectives are ready to follow up “on any clue, no matter how small or how slight,” said Los Angeles Police Department Commander Andrew Smith. “We’re still asking the community if they have any video tape or surveillance footage or anything that shows anything suspicious at all to come forward and bring it to us.”

Anyone with tips may contact authorities in the following ways:

• For a crime in progress, dial 911.

• Investigators at 877-LAPD-247

• Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS

• On your cell phone, text the letters “TIPLA” and your tip to 274637 or CRIMES

• Online at http://lacrimestoppers.org and click on the link “Submit a Tip.”

“We’ve reassigned dozens of detectives... all working together around the clock trying to apprehend whoever is doing this,” Smith said. “They are working on following up on clues, interviewing dozens of witnesses, picking up countless pieces of evidence and working together in a coordinated effort and with the arson investigators who are our lead to solve this problem, catch this guy and put him in custody.

Authorities would not speak about specifics of the investigation, “but in a general sense most of these fires have started as a result of something that ignites a vehicle fire next to a structure in certain cases," Butler said. "We are seeing auto fires as one of the primary incendiary items it happens to first, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only thing out there."