Arsonist Sought in Rash of Suspicious Fires

Los Angeles police and arson investigators were searching today for an arsonist who may be responsible for setting at least 14 car, mobile home and apartment fires in the North Hollywood area over the last two days.

So far the area targeted by this firebug appears to be bounded by Lankershim Boulevard on the east, Vanowen Street on the north, Laurel Canyon Boulevard on the west and Burbank Boulevard on the south.

The fires began each day around 3 a.m., according to city fire dispatch supervisor Capt. Rick McClure.

The first fire burned a motor home parked near the corner of Lankershim Boulevard and Vose Street was reported about 3:15 a.m., Saturday.

About an hour later, a second fire destroyed at least three cars in the
underground parking at a two-story garden apartment building at 11847 W. Victory Blvd. The flames spread to one unit and displaced several residents. A knock down was declared at 4:27 a.m., said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Firefighters called the fires “suspicious” and immediately called out the arson unit to the Victory location. Scott confirmed that an arson investigator was dispatched to the scene, but had no other information. Then just as suddenly the fires stopped.

But they started again today shortly before 3 a.m., according to McClure. The first fire which burned several vehicles parked at four-story condo at 11501 Hatteras Street was reported at 2:51 a.m., McClure said.

This was followed by a second fire at 5935 Lemp Ave., a three-story apartment building on a cul-de-sac which was reported at 3:06 a.m. That blaze apparently damaged one unit, according to the fire department.

At 3:19 a.m. another fire was set on Hatteras street, at an apartment building at 11527 Hatteras. Then the firebug hit an earlier target again setting another motor home ablaze near the corner of Lankershim Boulevard and Vose Street at 3:56 a.m.

At 4:12 a.m. and 4:14 a.m., two cars were set afire in quick succession on Radford Avenue, one at the intersection of Radford Avenue and Vose Street and a second at the intersection of Radford Avenue and Valerio Street.

At 4:16 a.m. another car was burned at 7240 Hinds Ave. At 4:17 a.m. The arsonist then doubled back and burned a car outside 7440 Radford Ave. Four minutes later another car was burned at 7433 Radford Ave. At 4:21 a.m. a motor home was attacked on Hart Street, and at 4:22 a.m. a building at 7324 Radford Ave. was burned.

“He seems to be starting one fire then moving down the street and starting another and another,'' said LAPD Sgt. Glenn McNeil, a watch commander at the North Hollywood station.

“He definitely seems to be moving northward in the area,'' said McNeil.

The sergeant said his division has beefed up patrols and used helicopters this morning to monitor the targeted area. But so far they have no leads or sightings of this mysterious firebug.

“No descriptions, no car sightings, nothing so far,'' he said. "But the investigation is ongoing.''

–City News Service