Results tagged “arson”

The Station Fire began on August 26th along the roadside in the Angeles National Forest above the community of La Cañada-Flintridge, and soon after its fiery grip held the city in its clutches, authorities deemed the start point a crime scene and launched an arson investigation. But so far there isn't much to stoke the embers of the case, as it were, thanks to a lack of information about the incident.

The suspected arsonist in the Old Fire that scorched some 90,000 acres of the San Bernardino Mountains was indicted by a jury on 5 counts of murder today. Six people died and 1,000 homes were lost in the October 2003 blaze. Months later on a rainy Christmas day, 14 people died when debris flows swept through a Church camp.

Big, but not surprising news snuck out yesterday about the 250-square mile Station Fire. After a cold front and a few days of rain, containment finally reached 100 percent last Friday evening.

The man who is suspected of starting a small fire in the Angeles National Forest just six days before the 250-square mile Station Fire was arrested last week in Lancaster, according to the LA Times. 25-year-old Babatunsin Olukunle, a Nigerian national, was caught on August 20th tending a fire near Mile Mark 36. Six days later near Mile Mark 29, the Station Fire began. Officials determined the large blaze to be caused by arson, prompting a homicide investigation after two firefighters lost their lives. Olukunle was only wanted for questioning and has not been formally named a suspect yet. Earlier this Month: Transient Sought For Questioning in Earlier Fire 'Person of Interest' in Station Fire

Six days before the massive Station Fire broke out in the Angeles National Forest, a fire dubbed the "Lady Bug Fire" burned just six miles away. Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives believe that much smaller fire was started by Babatunsin Olukunle, a 25-year-old Nigerian man and UC Davis dropout, according to KTLA.

Investigators have connected a series of arson fires to the teenager caught yesterday afternoon for allegedly starting the Crafton Fire, currently burning between Yucaipa and Mentone. The recent Pendleton and Oak Glen III fires are just two of the 14 he is suspected of starting.

That fire that began yesterday afternoon in Yucaipa apparently was arson and the arsonist has already been caught. A group of witnesses told police they saw a teenager flee on a bicycle near the fire's origin. The teen was soon found by Sheriff's deputies. The blaze began yesterday afternoon at 4:39 p.m. in the Crafton Hills area of Yucaipa and burned towards Mentone. It's currently 475 acres in size and 60 percent contained.

The 13-year-old El Monte boy who allegedly started the Morris Fire was charged today with two felony counts, arson and recklessly causing a fire to a forest or structure, according to KNX1070. He is not in custody, but will be arraigned on November 17th in Pomona Juvenile Court. The Morris Fire began on Tuesday, August 25th in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa and Glendora. It burned through some 2,168 acres and has been 100 percent contained

If you were driving on the Angeles Crest Highway on the day the Station Fire began--that's Wednesday, Aug 26 around 3:30 p.m.--Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detectives are seeking your help in finding the arsonist responsible for the largest fire in the county's modern history. The blaze broke out near Mile Marker 29 (map). Detectives are hoping to account for all vehicles that passed the spot, according to the LA Times. “Obviously if someone saw something that day we would like them to come forward and speak to investigators. But even if they didn’t see anything we would also like them to contact detectives if they traveled past there around that time,” said Steve Whitmore, sheriff’s spokesman, to the paper. Detectives can be reached at 323 890 5500.

The Station Fire has grown to 160,357 acres--that's over 250 square miles--up some 3,000 acres since last night. The blaze, now contained at 57 percent, has been a difficult fight for personnel and last night calmed on the western end, but became more aggressive on the northern one.

The Station Fire seems to be holding steady, and while the news is good to some degree, the big picture tells another story. As of last report, the "overnight containment of the 154,000-acre blaze [...] rose to 49% as temperatures dropped and humidity" increased according to LA Now. Along with the increase in acreage comes an increase in cost; the largest wildfire in LA County's modern history "has cost more than $37 million to fight, and officials are still assessing the toll to property, wildlife and forest facilities."

The Station Fire, which has killed two firefighters, destroyed 64 homes and has burned through 148,258 Acres--that's 230 square miles--was determined to be arson last night. “Forensic examination has led this team effort to conclude … that it was an act of arson," said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore to the L.A. Times. Mile marker 29 along the Angeles Crest Highway, where investigators believe the point of origin is near, is now a crime scene.

A possible arson suspect has barricaded himself somewhere on the 5400 block of Russell Avenue, near the intersection of Hollywood and Western, according to the LAPD. Not many details are available, but police believe he may have a weapon. A good number of police and fire have responded to the situation that is currently ongoing.

A fire reported yesterday afternoon around 3:47 p.m. near the Marshall Canyon Golf Course in La Verne is now fully contained, after raging through 95 acres of "thick, heavy brush" that made for challenging work for LA County Fire to combat. Now, authorities have "determined the blaze was the product of arson because it started in two places near a dirt road close to the golf course," according to the Daily News.

Word of the Taco Zone truck that parks near Vons in Echo Park being on fire spread in much the same manner as the blaze last night via Twitter and food-centric message boards.

Raymond Lee Oyler, who set the deadly Esperanza Fire in 2006, was sentenced to death today after a jury recommended the penalty with the judge concurring in his final sentence. Five firefighters died when flames overtook them while protecting a house in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains. 41,000 acres burned and 34 homes were lost, too. The 38-year-old arsonist was convicted in March of five counts of first-degree murder, 20 counts of arson and 17 counts of using an incendiary device.

Gary Allen Lintz, a 44-year-old Glenadale man who was arrested in connection with a handful of arson fires at Griffith Park last year, was sentenced to 16 years in prison today. He pleaded no contest to one of the fires and admitted causing "great bodily injury to a firefighter" in his August 16th conflagration. In exchange for his plea, the judge dismissed charges for starting fires on July 27, Aug. 4 and Aug. 23. Lintz, who was already on parole for arson, has remained in jail since last August. He was caught on August 23rd when trying to flee the park with a group of bicyclists. He was singled out because he was the only one in the group not wearing racing attire.

Firefighters have responded to at least seven fires in the past month to the Broadway Trade Center, formally the Hamburger/May Company building, in downtown. There is a concern since multiple sets of fires in multiple locations have occurred in recent weeks, according to LA Fire Department Spokesman Ron Myers.

As firefighters finish mopping up the now contained Marek Fire that consumed 4,824 acres, investigations continue into the cause. The Daily News finds that officials have found at least one lead that they are looking into: "Arson investigators have said they found something suspicious near the fire's ignition point -- a shooting range in Little Tujunga Canyon in the Angeles National Forest -- but details of their findings have not been publicly released." A cursory Google search shows that Angeles Shooting Range is located at 12651 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd.

Officials at a press conference say that many of the fires igniting across the region, including the original Marek/Little Tujunga Fire, look suspicious and are still under investigation. Fire and police are asking for any suspicious activity to be reported to police (license plate numbers are especially helpful).

After four bodies were discovered in a home that was on fire, investigators concluded that the mother and her three daughters had suffered trauma before the fire occurred. A murder investigation ensued, but shortly after, Corey King, 18, turned himself in to Sheriff's detectives after hearing on TV they were looking for him. At first, he was reportedly just in for questioning and not a suspect. But by early this morning, reports stated he was later arrested.

The "Lost Fire" in Agoura Hills last Tuesday was under investigation by LA County Sheriff's after they found evidence of arson. The case soon was solved after the responsible parties turned themselves in. "Two juveniles have confessed to accidentally starting an 80-acre brush fire near Malibu Creek State Park while playing with fireworks, a sheriff's lieutenant said Thursday," reported the Associated Press. Witnesses told police earlier that they saw two boys running from the fire that day of.

On Saturday, known arsonist Gary Allen Lintz was arrested on suspicion of starting that day's fire. But yesterday in court, he was charged with setting all the fires in the park since July 27. The 43-year-old transient pleaded not guilty to the July fire and the multiple fires he allegedly set on August 4, 16 and 23. "The criminal complaint alleges great bodily injury to a firefighter - who was hurt while fighting the Aug. 16 fire - and notes Lintz's 2007 arson conviction," says the Daily News. "Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Henry J. Hall ordered Lintz to remain jailed in lieu of $350,000 bail pending his next court appearance Sept. 8. If convicted, Lintz faces up to 21 years in prison."

A small brush fire that began early last night is under investigation for the possibility of murder and arson. The fire near the Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon was first reported at 6:27 p.m. and burned three to four acres before being knocked down at 7:08 p.m., according to LA County Fire over the phone. Firefighters noticed a vehicle in the fire and upon further investigation, found a dead body inside. Calls made to the LA County Sheriff's Department described "persons fleeing the area," says the LA Times. Also: An earlier fire on the other side of the mountains in Agoura Hills that started around noon is also under investigation for arson.

The Agoura Hills brush fire, now known as the "Lost Fire," grew to 75 acres before firefighters knocked it down at 4:30 p.m., according to Brendon Peart, Supervising Fire Dispatcher for LA County Fire. No people or structures were damaged and all evacuations were voluntary.

After Saturday's fire, undercover arson investigators patrolling the park arrested Gary Allen Lintz, a 43-year-old Glendale transient who was already under probation for arson, according to officials. It is believed he was responsible for the series of park fires lit last week, but he was only charged for Saturday's fire when arrested. Saturday's fire burned approximately 3 acres and took around an hour to knockdown, according to the LA Times.

Councilman Tom LaBonge, who represents the district that has Griffith Park within it, is meeting up with residents and hikers in two meetings tonight to discuss the seven fires that were lit at the park this past weekend. Arson is suspected.

The multiple fires at Griffith Park were 100% contained at 7 PM last night, according to an alert sent out by the Los Angeles Fire Department this morning. A total of five fires on the northern side of the park began within two hours of each other yesterday afternoon burning approximately 50 acres. Arson is suspected. One firefighter was hospitalized with non-life-threatening facial injuries after being struck with hose fittings whe battling a fire.

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.

The Long Beach Fire Dept.'s Arson Division is searching for suspects on the city's west side where more than a dozen small fires were started late Monday night/early Tuesday morning. "With the time of day and the close proximity to residences, any of these fires could have turned into something far more serious, even fatal," said LBFD Batallion Chief Frank Hayes. Fires were set to vehicles and in trash cans although no serious damage was done. At least 22 arson fires have been set in the past seven days, according to Hayes. For more information, visit the LBFD's Firechannel Blog.