Suspects Arrested for 26 Long Beach Arson Fires

Photo by Long Beach Fire Department

Two 22-year-old men have been arrested on suspicion for setting 26 fires over a two-week period which began June 30 when 14 arson fires set throughout the night and into the early morning. Officials used a surveillance tape from an AM/PM mini-mart to identify the suspects.

"There were fires found in trashcans and dumpsters, fires caused by placing combustibles, such as old mattresses against garage doors. There were solitary car fires causing damage to tarps and truck covers," reported the Long Beach Fire Department on their blog after the first incidents. "Some of these fires were very small and involved products of little or no value, however these fires often spread to nearby living areas, such as the case of dumpsters near the eaves of structures, often near bed rooms. In addition to the possible spread of fire."

Over the next two weeks, twelve more fires were set. All the fires were set in the same area, bordered by Spring and Willow streets and Adriatic and Santa Fe avenues, according to the LA Times (map embedded below). "Whatever was lit on fire to begin with just seemed to be there," an investigator told the paper.