Arson Suspect Arrested Following Sepulveda Pass Brush Fire

On Monday, June 28, 2010 at 2:49 PM, 18 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 1 LAFD Rescue Ambulance, 1 Arson Unit, 3 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 1 LAFD Water Tender, 1 LAFD Handcrew, 3 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 2 Division Chief Officer Command Teams, a total of 110 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Michael Little, responded to a Brush Fire adjacent to the northbound lanes of the San Diego (405) Freeway north of Skirball Center Drive in the Sepulveda Pass near Sherman Oaks.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly by ground and air to discover a half-acre of volatile vegetation burning east of the freeway.

With the assistance of California Highway Patrol Officers cordoning off a lane of the busy interstate, firefighters swiftly anchored the flames as fire spread uphill and eastward toward homes.

A well coordinated air and ground assault brought the terrain driven fire under control in just 53 minutes, but not before the fire had charred nearly two acres of grass and brush.

The swift arrival of LAFD water-dropping helicopters, combined with nearby resident's compliance with strict City of Los Angeles brush clearance regulations, prevented any homes from being damaged.

There were no injuries.

The fire was determined to be criminal in nature. Thanks to a cooperative effort by Investigators from the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol, a suspect was identifed and arrested for Arson of Wildland.

The suspect, a 51 year-old male transient, was taken into custody and booked for the felony charge(s) by Investigators from the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section. Bail was set at $75,000.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department