WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Wednesday, August 18, at 10:40 a.m., the Target store located on Santa Monica Boulevard and N. La Brae Avenue was evacuated due to a fire. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect is now in custody.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LCFD) responded to the call and evacuated the store. Firefighters found the fire in a small fitting room inside the Target store and put the fire out.
The suspect who was identified by witnesses fled the scene and was picked up by officers a few blocks away. There were no reports of any injuries from the fire.
The fire was contained to one area, but the smoke triggered the sprinkler system causing an estimated $35,000 in damage to the store.
MEANWHILE IN LA: Homeless tent fire in West Hollywood. 200 ft from Target and the Beverly Center. 🤯🤯🤯 Mind blown that homeless camping in these areas isn’t being met with swift police action to shut it down. It’s such a dense area and it puts homes and businesses at risk. pic.twitter.com/PXHeGlxdrD
— Elise Gabriel (@elisegabriel) January 5, 2021
According to reports, a homeless tent not 200 feet away from the Target and the Beverly Center also caught fire. The LCFD responded to a brush fire in a 2-acre area on the westbound side of Ronald Reagan Freeway and Rocky Peak Road in the Chatsworth region.
On August 8, the Los Angeles Fire Department stated:
“Many are surprised to learn the Los Angeles Fire Department maintains a flotilla of ‘Warcraft’ to protect the busy port of Los Angeles. The specialized Armada has indeed proven vital overtime in keeping the community safe and the port productive.”
