Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONROVIA - Fire officials announced a person of interest has been detained in a string of four suspicious fires ignited in the last two days. The two most recent fires damaged three wood-framed homes, killing a pet cat and causing at least two people to be displaced, said Chief Brad Dover of the Monrovia Fire Department. A house under construction was found fully engulfed early Wednesday, March 6 in the 700 block of West Colorado Boulevard around 12:35 a.m. Flames also caused damage at a neighboring home, which was red-tagged. The front porch of a home was torched March 7 at 812 W. Walnut Ave. Firefighters were dispatched at 12:03 a.m.
A person of interest was detained Thursday morning around 7 a.m. Detectives are seeking information from the person on interest regarding knowledge or involvement in the arsons, according to Monrovia Police Chief Alan Sanvictores. The Walnut Avenue home was occupied at the time the fire ignited. The resident was alerted by a smoke detector. He attempted to extinguish the fire, which extended into the structure itself and ultimately killed a pet cat. The resident suffered smoke inhalation, Dover said. Two minor fires extinguished were quickly determined to also be incendiary in nature, Dover said. The Verdugo Arson Task Force investigated the fires along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Los Angeles Fire Department, Dover said. A K9 search indicated a fire accelerant was used in the fires, Dover said. The person of interest has not been arrested. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|