..(Reuters) - About three dozen vehicles have been intentionally burned in the Los Angeles area the past two days, causing damage estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and setting off a broad police and fire investigation.
No residents have been injured and one firefighter has been treated and released for injuries fighting the spate of apparently related arson fires that has triggered a broad local and federal response, authorities said on Saturday.
Police stepped up patrols and the fire department has planned to maintain a command post for the New Year's weekend in the area. Additional fire department arson investigators have been called in to review video footage, map where and when the fires were set and interview witnesses.
Investigators were trying to determine if the string of fires was set by one person or more than one person, said Officer Norma Eisenman, a police department spokeswoman.
Nine vehicles burned early Saturday in the San Fernando Valley, police said, and the Los Angeles Fire Department reported vehicle or structure fires at other locations.
The early Saturday fires followed on 21 intentionally set fires involving vehicles or car ports in the city and county the day before, according to the fire department.
The fires have in some instances spread to structures and the fire department provided a "conservative" estimate for $350,000 in property damage from the Friday fires alone.
Authorities were offering rewards totaling $60,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist, the fire department said.
No suspects were in custody Saturday morning, Eisenman said. Police released people who had been detained in the investigation after determining they had no connection to the fires, she said.
Investigators were going over numerous tips from residents and surveillance recordings from area apartment buildings, Eisenman said.
The investigation includes the U.S. ATF, the Los Angeles County Sheriff, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Beverly Hills Fire Department.
(Reporting by David Bailey)
..
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Arson Update from LA Times
L.A.-area residents fear arsonist may strike again
Twenty-one 'highly unusual' fires are set within a few hours in Hollywood and West Hollywood. Nearly all of them started with a vehicle being set ablaze, but flames also damaged several residences.
Plumber Uri Oren works to clear a drain after an arson fire in the carport of an apartment building on Harper Avenue in West Hollywood. Twenty-one fires were set within hours in Hollywood and West Hollywood in one of the worst arson rampages in recent L.A. history. (Mel Melcon, Los Angeles Times / December 30, 2011)
By Joel Rubin, Andrew Blankstein and Ari Bloomekatz,
Los Angeles Times
December 31, 2011
The first call came in 25 minutes after midnight. A car parked in an underground garage in West Hollywood was engulfed in flames.
Three minutes later, firefighters responded to a second call a few blocks away.
Then a third. And a fourth.
Fire crews rolling out to one scene could hear dispatchers on their radios putting out the details of another. It didn't take long for fire officials to realize there was nothing coincidental about what was happening. They had an arsonist, or perhaps more than one, on their hands.
It would become, said Los Angeles Deputy Fire Chief Mario Rueda, "a night of managing chaos."
When dawn finally broke Friday, 21 fires smoldered throughout Hollywood and West Hollywood, making it one of the worst arson rampages in recent Los Angeles history.
Among the properties damaged was the Hollywood Hills home where The Doors' Jim Morrison once lived and which inspired his song "Love Street."
The night left L.A.-area residents on edge and investigators perplexed as they began the painstaking search for clues on who had set the fires and why.
Nearly all of the fires started with a vehicle being set ablaze. Several times, however, the flames jumped to nearby apartment buildings or houses, causing significant damage at some of the locations.
Estimates on the total cost of the damage were not available, although officials from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said that four fires set in West Hollywood alone destroyed about $350,000 worth of cars and property.
One firefighter suffered back and neck injuries and was taken to a hospital. His condition was not thought to be serious.
Investigators and experts said the fires were highly unusual for even a serial arsonist because of the sheer number of fires in a relatively short period of time. Officials have not said how the fires were set or whether they believe one or more people are responsible.
Of particular interest was Samuel Arrington, a 22-year-old from Sunland. Arrington was arrested Thursday on suspicion of starting three fires that day along a stretch of Sunset Boulevard in the same area as several of the fires that erupted hours later. Arrington was never released from custody after his arrest and arson investigators questioned him Friday in search of some link between him and the fires set Friday morning, officials said.
"It's too early to say whether we have a copycat," said Jaime Moore, a captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department.
In arson cases involving an initial set of fires followed by another, it is not unusual for someone unconnected to the first arsonist — a copycat — to have set the second group.
Residents and public safety officials alike expressed fear that the person or people responsible would ignite more fires in coming nights.
Another car fire broke out about 7:30 p.m. Friday in an underground garage in Hollywood in the 1600 block of North Sycamore Avenue. A team of investigators was immediately dispatched to the scene to look into the cause.
"We believe it's a good possibility that the individual responsible for the fires this morning is responsible for the fire that occurred tonight," Moore said.
Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said they planned to deploy additional officers throughout the area and called on the public to keep watch for anything suspicious.
Staffing at city and county fire stations also will be upped. The city, county and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives put up a $60,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprit or culprits.
"Arsonists often like to watch fires they set," said sheriff's Det. Ed Nordskog. "Someone likely saw something they may not think was important, but all clues are good clues right now."
Fire and police officials described a night of mounting anxiety and helplessness as the calls piled up and the reality of the situation set in.
From 12:25 a.m. until shortly after 1 a.m., reports of five fires came in. Four were within a block or two of each other on residential streets off Santa Monica Boulevard near Fairfax Avenue. A fifth occurred about a mile north near Hollywood Boulevard.
An hourlong lull followed the initial barrage, giving firefighters a false sense of relief that the string had ended. At 2 a.m., the calls began anew. Convinced they were dealing with an arsonist, fire officials frantically started to map the fires in an attempt to find a pattern in their location and timing — all in an effort to decipher where the arsonist or arsonists would strike next.
The LAPD, meanwhile, went on a citywide tactical alert, meaning that officers remained on the job even after their shifts ended.
Although scattered over a wide area, the fires in the second wave appeared to occur within minutes of each other. One, for example, was reported at Morrison's old home off Laurel Canyon Boulevard and then, a minute later, emergency dispatchers received word of another fire 3 1/2 miles away on Cahuenga Boulevard. Things were quiet again between 3 and 4 a.m., but then a final outburst of three fires erupted in a 10-minute span.
The distances between the locations and the timing of the calls seemed to indicate that either more than one person was involved, the fires were ignited remotely or people had been slow to report some of the fires.
"We've had nights … where there were three or four — someone was driving or walking around and setting [a series] of fires, but not something where they were targeting the community to this extent," Rueda said. "This was highly unusual."
The arsonist or arsonists may have focused on automobiles because they present an easy, effective target, said Robert Rowe, a fire safety consultant and retired arson investigator.
"They're a quick source of fuel," he said. "You break a window, you throw some type of object inside and it burns quite vigorously with the plastic, the upholstery and the gasoline."
Arsonists, he added, can be motivated by a range of things — the desire for recognition or revenge among them. Often mental illness is a factor.
"Sometimes the numbers grow because there's a thrill involved," Rowe said. "It becomes a kind of game to see how many more they can light until they finally get caught."
Whatever the reason, the fires turned an otherwise normal night on its head for scores of people who had to flee encroaching flames.
When Luisa Lopez awoke to a man shouting "Fire!" outside her apartment, choking, acrid smoke had already begun to seep into her bedroom. As she and her two children left, the 45-year-old single mother saw her 2002 Toyota 4Runner ablaze in the carport.
"It was horrible," she said. "Seeing the car was awful."
Lopez said she now would need to rent a car in order to get to her job as a housekeeper in Studio City.
In addition to Lopez's SUV, at least three other cars were badly damaged at the building and a thick coat of black soot covered the once cream-colored facade of the complex.
An apartment overlooking the carport sustained the worst damage — its windows shattered, pieces of furniture burned and the fire alarm melted.
Twenty-one 'highly unusual' fires are set within a few hours in Hollywood and West Hollywood. Nearly all of them started with a vehicle being set ablaze, but flames also damaged several residences.
Plumber Uri Oren works to clear a drain after an arson fire in the carport of an apartment building on Harper Avenue in West Hollywood. Twenty-one fires were set within hours in Hollywood and West Hollywood in one of the worst arson rampages in recent L.A. history. (Mel Melcon, Los Angeles Times / December 30, 2011)
By Joel Rubin, Andrew Blankstein and Ari Bloomekatz,
Los Angeles Times
December 31, 2011
The first call came in 25 minutes after midnight. A car parked in an underground garage in West Hollywood was engulfed in flames.
Three minutes later, firefighters responded to a second call a few blocks away.
Then a third. And a fourth.
Fire crews rolling out to one scene could hear dispatchers on their radios putting out the details of another. It didn't take long for fire officials to realize there was nothing coincidental about what was happening. They had an arsonist, or perhaps more than one, on their hands.
It would become, said Los Angeles Deputy Fire Chief Mario Rueda, "a night of managing chaos."
When dawn finally broke Friday, 21 fires smoldered throughout Hollywood and West Hollywood, making it one of the worst arson rampages in recent Los Angeles history.
Among the properties damaged was the Hollywood Hills home where The Doors' Jim Morrison once lived and which inspired his song "Love Street."
The night left L.A.-area residents on edge and investigators perplexed as they began the painstaking search for clues on who had set the fires and why.
Nearly all of the fires started with a vehicle being set ablaze. Several times, however, the flames jumped to nearby apartment buildings or houses, causing significant damage at some of the locations.
Estimates on the total cost of the damage were not available, although officials from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said that four fires set in West Hollywood alone destroyed about $350,000 worth of cars and property.
One firefighter suffered back and neck injuries and was taken to a hospital. His condition was not thought to be serious.
Investigators and experts said the fires were highly unusual for even a serial arsonist because of the sheer number of fires in a relatively short period of time. Officials have not said how the fires were set or whether they believe one or more people are responsible.
Of particular interest was Samuel Arrington, a 22-year-old from Sunland. Arrington was arrested Thursday on suspicion of starting three fires that day along a stretch of Sunset Boulevard in the same area as several of the fires that erupted hours later. Arrington was never released from custody after his arrest and arson investigators questioned him Friday in search of some link between him and the fires set Friday morning, officials said.
"It's too early to say whether we have a copycat," said Jaime Moore, a captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department.
In arson cases involving an initial set of fires followed by another, it is not unusual for someone unconnected to the first arsonist — a copycat — to have set the second group.
Residents and public safety officials alike expressed fear that the person or people responsible would ignite more fires in coming nights.
Another car fire broke out about 7:30 p.m. Friday in an underground garage in Hollywood in the 1600 block of North Sycamore Avenue. A team of investigators was immediately dispatched to the scene to look into the cause.
"We believe it's a good possibility that the individual responsible for the fires this morning is responsible for the fire that occurred tonight," Moore said.
Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said they planned to deploy additional officers throughout the area and called on the public to keep watch for anything suspicious.
Staffing at city and county fire stations also will be upped. The city, county and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives put up a $60,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprit or culprits.
"Arsonists often like to watch fires they set," said sheriff's Det. Ed Nordskog. "Someone likely saw something they may not think was important, but all clues are good clues right now."
Fire and police officials described a night of mounting anxiety and helplessness as the calls piled up and the reality of the situation set in.
From 12:25 a.m. until shortly after 1 a.m., reports of five fires came in. Four were within a block or two of each other on residential streets off Santa Monica Boulevard near Fairfax Avenue. A fifth occurred about a mile north near Hollywood Boulevard.
An hourlong lull followed the initial barrage, giving firefighters a false sense of relief that the string had ended. At 2 a.m., the calls began anew. Convinced they were dealing with an arsonist, fire officials frantically started to map the fires in an attempt to find a pattern in their location and timing — all in an effort to decipher where the arsonist or arsonists would strike next.
The LAPD, meanwhile, went on a citywide tactical alert, meaning that officers remained on the job even after their shifts ended.
Although scattered over a wide area, the fires in the second wave appeared to occur within minutes of each other. One, for example, was reported at Morrison's old home off Laurel Canyon Boulevard and then, a minute later, emergency dispatchers received word of another fire 3 1/2 miles away on Cahuenga Boulevard. Things were quiet again between 3 and 4 a.m., but then a final outburst of three fires erupted in a 10-minute span.
The distances between the locations and the timing of the calls seemed to indicate that either more than one person was involved, the fires were ignited remotely or people had been slow to report some of the fires.
"We've had nights … where there were three or four — someone was driving or walking around and setting [a series] of fires, but not something where they were targeting the community to this extent," Rueda said. "This was highly unusual."
The arsonist or arsonists may have focused on automobiles because they present an easy, effective target, said Robert Rowe, a fire safety consultant and retired arson investigator.
"They're a quick source of fuel," he said. "You break a window, you throw some type of object inside and it burns quite vigorously with the plastic, the upholstery and the gasoline."
Arsonists, he added, can be motivated by a range of things — the desire for recognition or revenge among them. Often mental illness is a factor.
"Sometimes the numbers grow because there's a thrill involved," Rowe said. "It becomes a kind of game to see how many more they can light until they finally get caught."
Whatever the reason, the fires turned an otherwise normal night on its head for scores of people who had to flee encroaching flames.
When Luisa Lopez awoke to a man shouting "Fire!" outside her apartment, choking, acrid smoke had already begun to seep into her bedroom. As she and her two children left, the 45-year-old single mother saw her 2002 Toyota 4Runner ablaze in the carport.
"It was horrible," she said. "Seeing the car was awful."
Lopez said she now would need to rent a car in order to get to her job as a housekeeper in Studio City.
In addition to Lopez's SUV, at least three other cars were badly damaged at the building and a thick coat of black soot covered the once cream-colored facade of the complex.
An apartment overlooking the carport sustained the worst damage — its windows shattered, pieces of furniture burned and the fire alarm melted.
Arson Fires Continue in North Hollywood
Numerous structure and auto fires being reported tonight in North Hollywood, LAFD engines and trucks are scrambling to numerous fires, a very serious situation. It appears this is the third night of arson fires plaguing Los Angeles. Fires have been reported on New Haven, Tuxford, Burbank Bl and Riverside Dr. If anyone has information please contact LAFD Arson Hotline or LAPD (213) 893-9800, or LAPD at (213) 972-2971. There is reward money for information from ATF, LA City and LA County.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Arson Fire Arrests in Los Angeles, A Very Serious Problem
The first arrest involved a suspect who is responsible for three arson fires and one attempted arson fire. The incidents occurred on December 29, 2011 between the hours of 1:12 AM and 1:28 AM and are as follows:
At 1:12 AM, a dumpster fire occurred at 1444 Poinsettia Place, and a carport fire at 1434 Fuller Avenue where four vehicles and an apartment above were damaged. Then, at 1:28 AM, fire was set to a trash can in a parking lot and an attempted arson to personal property at 7040 Sunset Boulevard.
As information was developed by Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Arson Investigators, it was determined that this suspect was, in fact, responsible for the first two incidents. The arrested is 22 year-old Sun Valley resident Samual Arrington.
The second arrest occurred as a result of a rubbish fire at 1347 McCadden Place, at 4:29 AM. There, 55 year-old Alejandro Pineda was arrested for burning trash. LAPD assisted Arson Investigators by transporting and booking the suspect while LAFD Investigators completed their scene examination. The suspect was booked on a charge of Arson of Property and bail is set at $50,000.
Since then, 21 fires (17 in the City and four in the County), involving various intentionally set automobile and structure fires created a conservative estimate of $350,000 in property damage. These fires occurred in the densely populated (approximately 20,000 people per square mile) Hollywood area and required firefighters to work tirelessly through a long and busy night. Due to the outstanding and diligent work of Los Angeles Firefighters, no civilians were injured and no structures were a total loss. However, one firefighter sustained a non-life-threatening injury while performing firefighting operations and was transported to a local hospital in fair condition. He has since has been released.
The LAFD is very concerned about these dangerous fires that could of resulted in deaths and are working closely with, Los Angeles Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol - Tobacco - Firearms and Explosives, LA County Sheriff's, Los Angeles County Fire Department, along with Beverly Hills Fire Department as a cohesive team.
LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section called in several additional investigators, all of whom continue to work around the clock and are currently reviewing video footage, mapping out and sequencing the fire incidents, interviewing witnesses and repeatedly canvasing the ashes during this active investigation.
We are asking the public to assist. Remain vigilant and "If you see something, say something". If you have any information that may assist in this active investigation, or if you witness any suspicious activity please call LAFD at (213) 893-9800, or LAPD at (213) 972-2971. If you witness someone actively committing a crime call 9-1-1. A reward is being offered.
At 1:12 AM, a dumpster fire occurred at 1444 Poinsettia Place, and a carport fire at 1434 Fuller Avenue where four vehicles and an apartment above were damaged. Then, at 1:28 AM, fire was set to a trash can in a parking lot and an attempted arson to personal property at 7040 Sunset Boulevard.
As information was developed by Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Arson Investigators, it was determined that this suspect was, in fact, responsible for the first two incidents. The arrested is 22 year-old Sun Valley resident Samual Arrington.
The second arrest occurred as a result of a rubbish fire at 1347 McCadden Place, at 4:29 AM. There, 55 year-old Alejandro Pineda was arrested for burning trash. LAPD assisted Arson Investigators by transporting and booking the suspect while LAFD Investigators completed their scene examination. The suspect was booked on a charge of Arson of Property and bail is set at $50,000.
Since then, 21 fires (17 in the City and four in the County), involving various intentionally set automobile and structure fires created a conservative estimate of $350,000 in property damage. These fires occurred in the densely populated (approximately 20,000 people per square mile) Hollywood area and required firefighters to work tirelessly through a long and busy night. Due to the outstanding and diligent work of Los Angeles Firefighters, no civilians were injured and no structures were a total loss. However, one firefighter sustained a non-life-threatening injury while performing firefighting operations and was transported to a local hospital in fair condition. He has since has been released.
The LAFD is very concerned about these dangerous fires that could of resulted in deaths and are working closely with, Los Angeles Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol - Tobacco - Firearms and Explosives, LA County Sheriff's, Los Angeles County Fire Department, along with Beverly Hills Fire Department as a cohesive team.
LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section called in several additional investigators, all of whom continue to work around the clock and are currently reviewing video footage, mapping out and sequencing the fire incidents, interviewing witnesses and repeatedly canvasing the ashes during this active investigation.
We are asking the public to assist. Remain vigilant and "If you see something, say something". If you have any information that may assist in this active investigation, or if you witness any suspicious activity please call LAFD at (213) 893-9800, or LAPD at (213) 972-2971. If you witness someone actively committing a crime call 9-1-1. A reward is being offered.
Arson Fire Arrests in Los Angeles, A very Serious Problem
The first arrest involved a suspect who is responsible for three arson fires and one attempted arson fire. The incidents occurred on December 29, 2011 between the hours of 1:12 AM and 1:28 AM and are as follows:
At 1:12 AM, a dumpster fire occurred at 1444 Poinsettia Place, and a carport fire at 1434 Fuller Avenue where four vehicles and an apartment above were damaged. Then, at 1:28 AM, fire was set to a trash can in a parking lot and an attempted arson to personal property at 7040 Sunset Boulevard.
As information was developed by Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Arson Investigators, it was determined that this suspect was, in fact, responsible for the first two incidents. The arrested is 22 year-old Sun Valley resident Samual Arrington.
The second arrest occurred as a result of a rubbish fire at 1347 McCadden Place, at 4:29 AM. There, 55 year-old Alejandro Pineda was arrested for burning trash. LAPD assisted Arson Investigators by transporting and booking the suspect while LAFD Investigators completed their scene examination. The suspect was booked on a charge of Arson of Property and bail is set at $50,000.
Since then, 21 fires (17 in the City and four in the County), involving various intentionally set automobile and structure fires created a conservative estimate of $350,000 in property damage. These fires occurred in the densely populated (approximately 20,000 people per square mile) Hollywood area and required firefighters to work tirelessly through a long and busy night. Due to the outstanding and diligent work of Los Angeles Firefighters, no civilians were injured and no structures were a total loss. However, one firefighter sustained a non-life-threatening injury while performing firefighting operations and was transported to a local hospital in fair condition. He has since has been released.
The LAFD is very concerned about these dangerous fires that could of resulted in deaths and are working closely with, Los Angeles Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol - Tobacco - Firearms and Explosives, LA County Sheriff's, Los Angeles County Fire Department, along with Beverly Hills Fire Department as a cohesive team.
LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section called in several additional investigators, all of whom continue to work around the clock and are currently reviewing video footage, mapping out and sequencing the fire incidents, interviewing witnesses and repeatedly canvasing the ashes during this active investigation.
We are asking the public to assist. Remain vigilant and "If you see something, say something". If you have any information that may assist in this active investigation, or if you witness any suspicious activity please call LAFD at (213) 893-9800, or LAPD at (213) 972-2971. If you witness someone actively committing a crime call 9-1-1. A reward is being offered.
At 1:12 AM, a dumpster fire occurred at 1444 Poinsettia Place, and a carport fire at 1434 Fuller Avenue where four vehicles and an apartment above were damaged. Then, at 1:28 AM, fire was set to a trash can in a parking lot and an attempted arson to personal property at 7040 Sunset Boulevard.
As information was developed by Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Arson Investigators, it was determined that this suspect was, in fact, responsible for the first two incidents. The arrested is 22 year-old Sun Valley resident Samual Arrington.
The second arrest occurred as a result of a rubbish fire at 1347 McCadden Place, at 4:29 AM. There, 55 year-old Alejandro Pineda was arrested for burning trash. LAPD assisted Arson Investigators by transporting and booking the suspect while LAFD Investigators completed their scene examination. The suspect was booked on a charge of Arson of Property and bail is set at $50,000.
Since then, 21 fires (17 in the City and four in the County), involving various intentionally set automobile and structure fires created a conservative estimate of $350,000 in property damage. These fires occurred in the densely populated (approximately 20,000 people per square mile) Hollywood area and required firefighters to work tirelessly through a long and busy night. Due to the outstanding and diligent work of Los Angeles Firefighters, no civilians were injured and no structures were a total loss. However, one firefighter sustained a non-life-threatening injury while performing firefighting operations and was transported to a local hospital in fair condition. He has since has been released.
The LAFD is very concerned about these dangerous fires that could of resulted in deaths and are working closely with, Los Angeles Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol - Tobacco - Firearms and Explosives, LA County Sheriff's, Los Angeles County Fire Department, along with Beverly Hills Fire Department as a cohesive team.
LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section called in several additional investigators, all of whom continue to work around the clock and are currently reviewing video footage, mapping out and sequencing the fire incidents, interviewing witnesses and repeatedly canvasing the ashes during this active investigation.
We are asking the public to assist. Remain vigilant and "If you see something, say something". If you have any information that may assist in this active investigation, or if you witness any suspicious activity please call LAFD at (213) 893-9800, or LAPD at (213) 972-2971. If you witness someone actively committing a crime call 9-1-1. A reward is being offered.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Mc Nally Fire Updae
Homeless woman found dead believed to be same person who started massive 2002 wildfire
BY JASON KOTOWSKI Californian staff writer
Thursday, Dec 29 2011 06:00 AM
Last Updated Thursday, Dec 29 2011 06:00 AM
There are indications a homeless woman found dead in a small encampment near the Chester Avenue Bridge was the same woman who gained notoriety about a decade ago after accidentally igniting the largest wildfire in Sequoia National Forest history.
Peri Dare Van Brunt started the McNally Fire in July 2002 when a campfire she was using to cook hot dogs burned out of control. The blaze scorched 150,000 acres and racked up $148 million in firefighting and other costs.
The woman found dead Tuesday has been identified as Peri Dare Van Brunt, and her age and what's known of her criminal history match the records of the Van Brunt who started the wildfire.
Two of Van Brunt's children were collecting her belongings Wednesday at the small, cluttered campsite she kept amid some trees near the water's edge. Jimmy Watkins, 28, and Lani Van Brunt, 22, described their mother as a loving person who at times struggled with drugs and had been homeless for the past two years.
Lani Van Brunt turned away and said she had no comment when asked if her mother had started the McNally Fire.
But she was willing to speak about her mother's interests. Peri Dare Van Brunt enjoyed listening to classic rock, doing arts and crafts and cooking, and had worked at several local eateries, Lani Van Brunt said.
Watkins said Van Brunt had fallen on hard times and was unable to find work. He and Lani visited her frequently at her makeshift campsite.
"She'd do anything for anybody," Watkins said.
Van Brunt pleaded guilty in May 2003 to three misdemeanor charges of negligently setting the McNally Fire, and was later sentenced to 18 months in prison. The blaze burned for two months, destroying three homes, five commercial properties and six outbuildings.
Kern County Fire Engineer Leland Davis said Wednesday the McNally Fire remains the largest Sequoia National Forest wildfire.
Van Brunt admitted to taking methamphetamine the night before the fire, according to archived articles in The Californian. The blaze started July 21, 2002 at Road's End Resort, 16 miles north of Kernville.
The charges she pleaded guilty to said she left an unlawful fire unattended, didn't clear an area around the fire and caused a fire that burned trees, brush and grass. Witnesses said she went to the resort asking for help in dousing a fire near the river, and then fled with her dog.
She was arrested a week later.
Married at the time with two children, Van Brunt had gone to the resort after her estranged husband, Gary Van Brunt, traveled there to get away from her. Gary Van Brunt had asked for a court order prohibiting her from coming near him, alleging that she was unstable and destroyed the house they'd been living in, according to Californian reports at the time.
Both before and after the fire, Van Brunt was repeatedly charged with drug offenses.
The Kern County Superior Court website says Peri Van Brunt pleaded no contest to drug possession for sales in 1992 and 1994, petty theft in 2007, drug possession in 2008, and in 2009 she again pleaded no contest to drug possession for sales.
Bakersfield police Sgt. Mary DeGeare said Van Brunt was last seen alive about 5:30 p.m. Monday. She lived alone in the camp.
There was no sign of injury to the body, and no indication of foul play, DeGeare said.
Lani Van Brunt said an autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.
Source: http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x4969554/Homeless-woman-found-dead-believed-to-be-same-person-who-started-massive-2002-wildfire
BY JASON KOTOWSKI Californian staff writer
Thursday, Dec 29 2011 06:00 AM
Last Updated Thursday, Dec 29 2011 06:00 AM
There are indications a homeless woman found dead in a small encampment near the Chester Avenue Bridge was the same woman who gained notoriety about a decade ago after accidentally igniting the largest wildfire in Sequoia National Forest history.
Peri Dare Van Brunt started the McNally Fire in July 2002 when a campfire she was using to cook hot dogs burned out of control. The blaze scorched 150,000 acres and racked up $148 million in firefighting and other costs.
The woman found dead Tuesday has been identified as Peri Dare Van Brunt, and her age and what's known of her criminal history match the records of the Van Brunt who started the wildfire.
Two of Van Brunt's children were collecting her belongings Wednesday at the small, cluttered campsite she kept amid some trees near the water's edge. Jimmy Watkins, 28, and Lani Van Brunt, 22, described their mother as a loving person who at times struggled with drugs and had been homeless for the past two years.
Lani Van Brunt turned away and said she had no comment when asked if her mother had started the McNally Fire.
But she was willing to speak about her mother's interests. Peri Dare Van Brunt enjoyed listening to classic rock, doing arts and crafts and cooking, and had worked at several local eateries, Lani Van Brunt said.
Watkins said Van Brunt had fallen on hard times and was unable to find work. He and Lani visited her frequently at her makeshift campsite.
"She'd do anything for anybody," Watkins said.
Van Brunt pleaded guilty in May 2003 to three misdemeanor charges of negligently setting the McNally Fire, and was later sentenced to 18 months in prison. The blaze burned for two months, destroying three homes, five commercial properties and six outbuildings.
Kern County Fire Engineer Leland Davis said Wednesday the McNally Fire remains the largest Sequoia National Forest wildfire.
Van Brunt admitted to taking methamphetamine the night before the fire, according to archived articles in The Californian. The blaze started July 21, 2002 at Road's End Resort, 16 miles north of Kernville.
The charges she pleaded guilty to said she left an unlawful fire unattended, didn't clear an area around the fire and caused a fire that burned trees, brush and grass. Witnesses said she went to the resort asking for help in dousing a fire near the river, and then fled with her dog.
She was arrested a week later.
Married at the time with two children, Van Brunt had gone to the resort after her estranged husband, Gary Van Brunt, traveled there to get away from her. Gary Van Brunt had asked for a court order prohibiting her from coming near him, alleging that she was unstable and destroyed the house they'd been living in, according to Californian reports at the time.
Both before and after the fire, Van Brunt was repeatedly charged with drug offenses.
The Kern County Superior Court website says Peri Van Brunt pleaded no contest to drug possession for sales in 1992 and 1994, petty theft in 2007, drug possession in 2008, and in 2009 she again pleaded no contest to drug possession for sales.
Bakersfield police Sgt. Mary DeGeare said Van Brunt was last seen alive about 5:30 p.m. Monday. She lived alone in the camp.
There was no sign of injury to the body, and no indication of foul play, DeGeare said.
Lani Van Brunt said an autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.
Source: http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x4969554/Homeless-woman-found-dead-believed-to-be-same-person-who-started-massive-2002-wildfire
Arson Suspect Caught by Civilian, LA Times Report
Arsonist set 3 Hollywood fires 15 minutes apart, police say
By Angel Jennings
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 29, 2011, 8:25 a.m.
An arson suspect has been arrested in Hollywood after allegedly setting three fires that caused massive property damage early Thursday morning.
Samuel Arrington, 22, of Sunland, is charged with arson for torching a vehicle and setting rubbish on fire. The fires were set 15 minutes apart from one another along a five-block stretch of Sunset Boulevard, authorities said.
It is estimated that the fires caused more than $100,000 in property damage, said Captain Jaime Moore, a public information officer for the Los Angeles Fire Department. An elderly male was treated for smoke inhalation.
The first blaze took place at 1:12 a.m. on Poinsettia Place and Sunset Avenue, where a dumpster was set on fire.
Around the same time, firefighters received a call about a car fire in the carport attached to an apartment building at 1434 N. Fuller Ave. Firefighters rushed to rescue the 20 occupants who lived inside the 10-unit apartment complex. A 73-year-old male was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
Four vehicles were destroyed in the front of the building. As the flames rose from the carport to the building itself, it damaged at least two apartment units.
In the third blaze, the suspect set a trash can on fire at Sunset Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue before a witness apprehended him.
The witness, Pedro Mejia, was cleaning the sidewalk with a pressure washer when he encountered the suspect.
"I saw him turn the trash can on fire," Mejia told KTLA News. "After that, he walked toward my equipment and tried to set it on fire."
Arrington was trying to ignite two fuel tanks attached to Mejia's pressure washer. Mejia said the fuel tanks on the washer contain 30 gallons of diesel. "I ran over there and chased him away."
Mejia detained Arrington and flagged down passing police. The LAFD's arson unit is investigating the crime. No motive has been determined, but it is suspected that Arrington may have been under the influence of a controlled substance, Moore said.
"He could have done a lot more damage," he said.
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
By Angel Jennings
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 29, 2011, 8:25 a.m.
An arson suspect has been arrested in Hollywood after allegedly setting three fires that caused massive property damage early Thursday morning.
Samuel Arrington, 22, of Sunland, is charged with arson for torching a vehicle and setting rubbish on fire. The fires were set 15 minutes apart from one another along a five-block stretch of Sunset Boulevard, authorities said.
It is estimated that the fires caused more than $100,000 in property damage, said Captain Jaime Moore, a public information officer for the Los Angeles Fire Department. An elderly male was treated for smoke inhalation.
The first blaze took place at 1:12 a.m. on Poinsettia Place and Sunset Avenue, where a dumpster was set on fire.
Around the same time, firefighters received a call about a car fire in the carport attached to an apartment building at 1434 N. Fuller Ave. Firefighters rushed to rescue the 20 occupants who lived inside the 10-unit apartment complex. A 73-year-old male was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
Four vehicles were destroyed in the front of the building. As the flames rose from the carport to the building itself, it damaged at least two apartment units.
In the third blaze, the suspect set a trash can on fire at Sunset Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue before a witness apprehended him.
The witness, Pedro Mejia, was cleaning the sidewalk with a pressure washer when he encountered the suspect.
"I saw him turn the trash can on fire," Mejia told KTLA News. "After that, he walked toward my equipment and tried to set it on fire."
Arrington was trying to ignite two fuel tanks attached to Mejia's pressure washer. Mejia said the fuel tanks on the washer contain 30 gallons of diesel. "I ran over there and chased him away."
Mejia detained Arrington and flagged down passing police. The LAFD's arson unit is investigating the crime. No motive has been determined, but it is suspected that Arrington may have been under the influence of a controlled substance, Moore said.
"He could have done a lot more damage," he said.
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
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