California officials post $60,000 reward after 21-fire arson spree

By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 2:59 AM EST, Sat December 31, 2011

Officials are offering a $60,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in a Friday morning arson spree in the Hollywood area.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Officials: The fires were started within a 2-square mile area within a 5-hour span
• Among the homes damaged is one where Doors frontman Jim Morrison once lived
• County supervisor: "We want to get these SOBs before they hurt somebody"
• Official: The fires cause more than $350,000 in property damage

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Twenty-one fires, set in rapid succession in the Hollywood area, have prompted authorities in California to post a $60,000 reward in what they say is one of the worst arson sprees in recent memory.

In almost every case, the fires were started on parked cars within a span of about five hours early Friday morning, officials said. Some of the fires spread to nearby buildings.

Among the homes damaged was one that was once occupied by Doors frontman Jim Morrison. The street where the house sits -- Rothdell Trail -- was the inspiration for the Doors song, "Love Street."

Seventeen fires were set in Hollywood; four others in West Hollywood -- all of them within a 2-square mile area.

Fire officials said they were relieved no one was hurt, although a firefighter suffered a non-life threatening injury.

"If you're setting something alight when people are going to bed, you obviously don't expect them to wake up," resident Mark Todd told CNN affiliate KTLA. "It sort of goes past arson to attempted murder."

The Hollywood area is home to about 20,000 people per square mile, said Los Angeles fire spokesman Erik Scott.

He also said the fires caused $350,000 in property damage -- a "conservative estimate."

County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told reporters Friday afternoon that authorities 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," he said.

Authorities deployed extra police officers were deployed after sundown. The Los Angeles fire department's arson unit called in additional investigators to review surveillance footage and pore through the ashes.

"While our police officers and our fire departments are working on high alert in coming days, everyone must remain vigilant," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

By early Saturday morning, authorities had not made an arrest.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/31/justice/california-arson/index.html?eref=rss_latest

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