Firefighters Chase Arson Fires In Hollywood Area

Published December 30, 2011 3:54PM (EST)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An arsonist torched car after car early Friday, sending firefighters scrambling to put out more than a dozen fires in Hollywood and neighboring West Hollywood.

The fires started shortly after midnight. In nearly every case, parked cars were torched and the flames spread to nearby homes or apartment buildings.

There were no civilian injuries, but dozens of people were rousted from their homes, power was disrupted in several neighborhoods and Los Angeles police were put on tactical alert in the Hollywood area. One city firefighter was treated and released from a hospital after a fall while battling one blaze.

"It was a long, tough, night," said Los Angeles County fire Battalion Chief Tom Sullivan.

There was no suspect description, police and fire officials said at an early morning news conference.

Arson investigators from the police and sheriff's departments were looking for building security videos and eyewitnesses.

"If you see something, say something," Sullivan told a press conference.

It was the second day of arson fires in the area.

Two people were arrested Thursday following a spate of similar car and rubbish fires. But officials said those men remained in custody Friday.

Hollywood is served by the Los Angeles city police and fire departments. Adjacent West Hollywood is a separately incorporated city served by the Los Angeles County fire and sheriff's departments.


By Salon Staff

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