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Series Of Tree Fires In North Hollywood Prompts Arson Investigation
Four fires were reported in the same localized area in North Hollywood on Thursday morning, prompting the Los Angeles Fire Department’s arson section to conduct an investigation. “We’re investigating because of the close proximity of the fires, and the close time frame that the fires occurred in North Hollywood,” Captain Erik Scott of the LAFD told LAist.
The LAFD says that firefighters were dispatched to reported fires at the 5900 block of Carpenter Avenue at 5:35 a.m., the 5900 block of N. Irvine Avenue at 5:46 a.m., the 11600 block of Oxnard Street at 5:50 a.m., and the 5700 block of N. Beck Avenue at 5:53 a.m. These sites are within blocks of each other, with four blocks separating the most distant locations.
At Oxnard Street, firefighters responded to a report of a rubbish fire, but did not find a fire upon arrival. At the three other sites, firefighters encountered a tree that had caught on fire—the flames had also spread to nearby vehicles.
One resident taped one of the fires and shared it on social:
Woke up to this across the street, trees and car on fire #northhollywood #fire pic.twitter.com/6IM4vQGtnl
— Tammy Sutton (@tamity) October 19, 2017
Officers from #LAPD setting up a crime scene in #NorthHollywood, where trees & cars catch fire. @KNX1070 @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/RUcyUG0zAW
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) October 19, 2017
Sal Ramirez, public information officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, told LAist that police are looking for an individual who was reportedly spotted near the incident at Irvine Avenue. The LAPD says the person—described as male and wearing dark clothing— was seen leaving the scene on a bicycle. No further information was available.
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As noted at L.A. Daily News, the series of fires on Thursday comes after another set of fires that were reported on the morning of September 25. Five fires were reported shortly after 3 a.m.—they occurred blocks away from where Thursday's fires were reported. “It remains unclear if there is a connection between this morning’s fire and the previous spree,” Scott told LAist. “It remains under active investigation."
No injuries were reported in either the fires reported on Thursday or September 25.
Anyone with information regarding the fires is asked to call the LAFD's arson section at 213 893-9800.
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