Police on Thursday morning were searching for an arsonist who lit parts of a near-one-mile stretch of Sherman Oaks along Ventura Boulevard ablaze Wednesday night, threatening homes and businesses on the popular thoroughfare just 8 miles north of Hollywood, Calif., officials said.
Fires began erupting about 8:40 p.m. when someone lit six trash can fires in Sherman Oaks along Ventura Boulevard between Coldwater Canyon and Sunnyslope avenues, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.
A man was taken in for questioning before 1 a.m. Thursday, according to a watch commander at the Los Angeles Police Department Van Nuys Station.
NBC4 received conflicting reports from the police station regarding whether the man taken for questioning was arrested in connection with the fires or if he was no longer being considered a suspect.
One of the fires reached a business and a two-story apartment building near 13912 Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks (map). Smoke could be seen pouring out of the roof as firefighters were battling the flames.
The arsons caused at least $20,000 in damage to the structures, LAFD officials said.
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Photo Credit: RMG News