The fire calls started pouring in shortly after midnight. Reports of burning vehicles in carports attached to apartments filled with sleeping residents in Hollywood and West Hollywood — apparently the work of a serial arsonist.
By sunrise, firefighters had extinguished 19 suspected arson fires. The Los Angeles Police Department declared a citywide tactical alert, keeping officers working past the end of their shifts to help with the investigation.
One firefighter was injured while he battled a blaze. He was taken to the hospital and treated for back and neck injuries. No deaths were reported, but officials said they fear that the arsonist or arsonists could cause more damage if not caught.
Full story: Hollywood arson spree: Firefighters ‘swamped’ by wave of fires – latimes.com.