WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Saturday, December 31, two more arson fires occurred in the City of West Hollywood less than 24 hours after five other arson fires were reported. In total, the seven acts of arson have caused a total of $425,000 in property damage.
West Hollywood sheriff’s deputies and Los Angeles County firefighters responded to the first fire at 6:52 p.m. at the Gateway Center on the 7100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard near North La Brea Avenue. A vehicle was on fire in the parking garage. They responded to a second fire at 8:28 p.m. on the 1000 block Sweetzer Avenue near Santa Monica Boulevard about 1.5 miles away. Two vehicles and a car port were damaged.
Los Angeles County firefighters estimate that the two acts of arson caused $75,000 worth of property damage. As in the previous West Hollywood incidents, no one was injured.
Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from the city and the county are working together to investigate these acts of arson and those that have increasingly occurred in the nearby Hollywood area. They are also looking for the suspect(s) responsible. Toward that end, a combined reward of $60,000 has been offered for their arrests.
Ed Nordskog, a detective with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Arson/Explosive Detail, previously said that the West Hollywood arson fires are connected to those that have occurred throughout Los Angeles. Those in West Hollywood that happened on December 30 denoted a pattern of beginning in the eastern part of the city and ending in the western part. The same pattern has occurred with the most recent New Year’s Eve acts of arson.
“Arsonists often like to watch fires they set,” Nordskog said. “Please contact us if you noticed anything suspicious. Someone likely saw something they may not think was important, but all clues are good clues right now.”
Anyone with information to report about these arsons can call the arson/explosive detail at 323-881-7500 or who sees an arson happening can call 310-855-8850.
