Los Angeles

Investigators Looking at Six Suspicious South LA Fires

Six fires overnight in South Los Angeles have arson investigators seeking surveillance video and witnesses to what could be a so-called "firebug."

The first fire broke out in the area of 38th Street and Grand Avenue but the largest happened at 39th  and Main strewhere firefighters say the blaze was so big, it had the potential to destroy a business there.

“We were fortunate in this particular incident that the windows weren’t broken to a point where the contents on the inside ended up catching fire,” said David Liske, LAFD’s lead arson investigator. Liske credits someone who drove by the fire for calling it in so quickly to get crews to the scene.

Most of the fires happened within just a few blocks of each other. In most cases the fires were started with trash with the exception of at least one grass fire. The largest of the six included a homeless encampment although no one was hurt.

“More often than not we look at the patterns of the fire, see what we’re dealing with and go from there and see what information we can develop,” Liske said, adding that a number of investigators have now been assigned to the case. He says he worries that whoever is setting the fires may take bigger risks.

"It might be one person but it’s hard to say at this point," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAFD Arson Hotline at 213-893-9850.
 

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