Suspected Arsonist Sets Six Fires In One Night In Sherman Oaks

A man in his 50s was arrested just after midnight Thursday on suspicion of setting a series of six fires along a stretch of Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks.

The unidentified suspected arsonist was taken into custody near the intersection of Katherine Avenue and Moorpark Street, said Sgt. J. Hensley, watch commander at the Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Station, reports City News Service.

The six rubbish fires were set between 8:15 p.m. and 9:32 p.m. Wednesday along an eight-block stretch from the 13100 to the 13900 block of Ventura Boulevard.

One of the fires spread to two buildings, and took a crew of 35 Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters to put out the blaze. No one was injured from any of the fires.

The suspect had an outstanding felony arrest warrant, according to the LAFD arson investigator.

Here are some images from the fires:

In late 2011, a series of 100 arson fires had residents of Hollywood, West Hollywood, and North Hollywood, on edge. Those fires were connected to suspect Harry Burkhart. Earlier that year, another North Hollywood arsonist was identified as an ex-Marine with a history of setting fires in Japan.