Monday, January 2, 2012

Video: Los Angeles on edge over fires



>>> in los angeles tonight an undercurrent of anxiety. someone has been setting fires, dozens of them over the past two nights with no suspect or suspects identified. tonight officials are worried it could strike again. nbc's mike tiabbe is live in north hollywood with more details. good evening, mike.

>> reporter: good evening, kate. so far this one has investigators stumped. they say unequivocally this is arson. but there's no evidence and no negative information from any witness that points to a specific suspect. scott froshour of north hollywood said it was his wife who woke him to say a neighbor's car was on fire. logic and fear drove him to take action until the real feerts arrived.

>> we just ran over, i got a jose and started putting it out. she called the police. luckily it was just a car.

>> reporter: there's been luck so far in what fire official say is clearly an arson rampage. none of the fires have started in the house there were sleeping occupants. instead just about every one began with a vehicle in flames.

>> we lost actually four cars that could easily have been some loss of life. thank god that didn't happen. but just so close to that.

>> reporter: if it's all a play for attention, it's working. local fire and police teams have now been joined by federal firearms investigators in a search for evidence and suspects. so far none of the latter.

>> we're pulling all our resources to ensure we track and find and detain and arrest that suspect.

>> reporter: suspect or suspects. maybe even a copycat or two. that's because one of the worst arson rampages has occurred in short bursts of time over two square miles . 21 overnight fires set through friday morning. at least 13 more by daybreak saturday. ten of those in north hollywood . investigators are studying some inconclusive home video they've obtained but they need more help.

>> if you do see anything, hear anything, please report it immediately.

>> reporter: the big concern, it is new year's eve. that means crowds of thousands requiring police resources and attention while an arsonist is still at large. and maybe more than one.

>>> with we want to get these sobs before they hurt somebody. we are very fortunate that the response of the fire departments that we had last night resulted in minimal property damage.

>> reporter: local and federal agencies have now put together a reward offer that stand at $60,000 for information lead together arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for this rampage. and so far again this is just plain good luck. there's been only one reported injury. that to a firefighter who took a fall while battling one of the blazes. kate?

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45836270/

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