Breakthrough: Suspected arsonist in massive Los Angeles fire spotted on video, fire official says

Breakthrough: Suspected arsonist in massive Los Angeles fire spotted on video, fire official says

Authorities had been trying to track down an individual who had set ablaze a seven-story apartment complex under construction in December, causing tens of millions of dollars in damage.

The suspect in a huge arson fire last year that destroyed an apartment complex in Los Angeles that was under construction was seen on surveillance footage, authorities say.

The suspected arsonist was captured parking his vehicle on the 110 Freeway and then walking with cans of fuel toward the apartment complex shortly before the massive December blaze, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

The fire caused tens of millions of dollars in damage and the suspect was never apprehended, with officials offering $170,000 for information that would lead ot the arrest of the arsonist. The fire, in addition to destroying a seven-story building, also damaged the nearby freeway and some neighboring buildings, according to the report.

Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Ruda said in an update to members of Echo Park’s neighborhood council that they believe the suspect started the fire on the freeway side before fleeing.

The fire broke out at 1:20 a.m. on Dec. 8 and set off a huge blaze that could be seen from just about anywhere in Los Angeles as the flames quickly consumed the wooden structure. It took 250 firefighters more than an hour and a half to get the blaze under control, although no injuries were reported.

Fire officials immediately suspected foul play based on how quickly the structure became engulfed in flames. The estimated damage was between $25 million and $30 million.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities had at one point released footage of two passersby they wanted to interview as potential witnesses, including one that was walking by just before the start of the fire and a second who had tried to jump the fence to get into the burning building and had to be held back by firefighters.

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