2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
 | It has been suggested that 2011 Los Angeles arson spree be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2012. |
The 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks are a series of fires started on 29 December 2011 in Las Angeles. The 2011 Los Angeles arson spree usually refers to the first spree of the total 5 spree nights with at least 55 fires so far in the southern part of California in the United States starting December 30, 2011. The fires are believed to be arson [1] and the increase in the number of fires each day may indicate copycat incidents. It is the worst case of arson reported in the area since the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Overview
The attacks happened around nighttime and were widespread. The main targets are cars.
There is currently one person of interest. Some have been arrested on suspision, yet they continue and the attackers have not been caught. There have been no reported injuries. The amount of damage is currently unknown. The 2011 Los Angeles arson sprees are fifty-five fires in the Los Angeles metropolitan area starting December 30, 2011 that as a group are ongoing.
No injuries have been reported, and the total amount of damage is estimated at $350000 up to $2 million.[2] Among the buildings damaged was a home in which singer Jim Morrison once lived.[3] There is currently one person of interest, who has been arrested.[2]
Timeline
On the morning of December 29, twenty-one fires were set in the metropolitan area of Los Angeles. All of the initial fires were set within five hours of each other, making authorities suspect arson.[4] By the next day, there were thirty-five fires spanning Los Angeles County. There were the twenty-one in Hollywood and West Hollywood. In addition there were eight in North Hollywood, three in the San Fernando Valley foothills, three in Wilshire, plus one on the Westside and one in Lennox.
By January 2 the number had reached 55,[5] which the Los Angeles Fire Department described as "45 occurred in the Los Angeles area, another nine were in West Hollywood, and one was in Burbank."[2]
Night 1 of the 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
The first fires start. Arson is blamed.
Night 2 of the 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
Night 3 of the 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
The total fires of the arson spree series reached 39. By this time the number of arrests has reached 1. The estimated damge reaches $350,000.
Night 4 of the 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
The total fires of the arson spree series reached 55. By this time the number of arrests has reached 2. The estimated damge reached $2,000,000.
Night 5 of the 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
Night 6 of the 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
Night 7 of the 2011–12 Los Angeles arson attacks
Response
No information was released about the perpetrator until December 31, when authorities reported the suspect was a "male driving a white-and-tan mid-1990s Lexus ES300".
At a press conference on January 1, LAFD chief Pat Butler said, "We are not going to rest. We are going to work tirelessly".[6]
The captain of the LAFD, Jamie Moore, said, "It will be interesting to see what the motive is behind this. There are a lot of reasons why people start fires. Some people do it out of spite or malice. Others do it out of recognition. Others do it as a crime cover-up. Some do it for financial gain, and there are always those who have a psychological problem where they get a form of self-gratification from it."[7]
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said on December 30, "We are dead serious about trying to apprehend the individual or individuals who are responsible for this. We want to get these SOBs before they hurt somebody. One of these fires was just less than three blocks from my own home."[7]
On January 2, authorities arrested a man near a drugstore at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. He was driving a blue minivan with Canadian license plates and was transporting fire-starting materials.[8] The man (not yet identified) is a German native who may be in a dispute with US immigration.[2][9]
Internet
On twitter there has been mixed reaction to the various arson attacks. Many react to the person of interest being caught.http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/los-angeles-arson-attacks-suspect-arrest-twitter-reaction-277253
Copycat incidents
In Peru, Illinois a massive fire destroyed a clock factory that according to police was deliberate.http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?ps=1011&rip_id=%3CD9S0BCO81%40news.ap.org%3E&news_id=17322282&src=most_popular_viewed In may have been influenced due to the timing.
References
- ^ "Police brace for more L.A. arson fires on New Year's Eve". L.A. Times. December 31, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Blankstein, Andrew; Winton, Richard; Bloomekatz, Ari (January 2, 2012). "Suspect Arrested in String of Fires". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Malkoff, Dave (January 1, 2012). "Arsonist Lights Jim Morrison's House on Fire". New England Cable News . Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ "35 Southern California Fires Rock Cities". CNN. December 31, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ Quinones, Sam (January 2, 2012). "L.A. Arson Fires Now Top 55; 'Person of Interest' Held". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ "LA Detectives Release Video Featuring Person of Interest After Latest Wave of Car Arson Fires". The Washington Post. Associated Press. January 1, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ a b Nagourney, Adam (January 1, 2012). "Cars Set on Fire, and Los Angeles Set on Edge". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ Blankstein, Andrew; Winton, Richard; Bloomekatz, Ari (January 2, 2012). "Fire Starting Materials Found in Van of Person of Interest Sources Say". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
- ^ Blankstein, Andrew; Winton, Richard; Bloomekatz, Ari (January 2, 2012). "Police Examine Immigration Link to Case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2012.