(Image Source: Los Angeles Times)
BY LAUREN ZIMA
Authorities in California are offering $60,000 for information on who’s behind an arson spree in Los Angeles, according to CNN. As of Saturday morning, dozens of fires had been started in 24 hours. ABC News has the story.
“Firefighters scrambling through the night to keep up with fire after fire after fire. The first was set around midnight in a parked car. By 5 a.m., chaos -- a total of 17 fires had been set throughout Los Angeles, concentrated in the heart of Hollywood.”
By Saturday morning, at least 21 fires had been reported, with some estimating up to 44 fires. KNTV explains how police are responding.
“Police did set up a command post and call a tactical alert to put more officers on duty. So far, though -- no arrests, but even better -- no injuries.”
Firefighters warned -- though the fires started on parked cars, in many cases, flames quickly spread to nearby buildings. The Los Angeles Times reports on some of the damages.
“Among the properties damaged was the Hollywood Hills home where The Doors' Jim Morrison once lived. The home inspired Morrison's song ‘Love Street.’ … Friday night's fires left L.A.-area residents on edge and investigators perplexed as they began the painstaking search for clues on who had set the fires and why.”
Though police have made no arrests, they suspect there are multiple perpetrators due to the sheer number of fires. The LAist has details.
“The arsonist is apparently using some kind of Molotov cocktail, perhaps in a container able to penetrate car-window glass, according to investigators. … Authorities say they are looking for a man driving a white-and- tan, mid-90s model Lexus ES300 …”
It’s now estimated the fires have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
