Firefighters chase arson fires in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES: An arsonist swept through the Hollywood area under the cover of dark early Friday, torching vehicles whose flames ignited nearby houses, including one once occupied by Doors frontman Jim Morrison.

The four-hour onslaught started shortly after midnight and sent firefighters scrambling to douse fires in 22 locations in Hollywood and the neighboring city of West Hollywood. In nearly every case, the fire started in a parked car.

Authorities ruled out any possible link to terrorism while bracing for another round of fires and continuing the search for a suspect.

Dozens of people were rousted from their homes, power was disrupted in several neighborhoods and Los Angeles police were put on alert in the Hollywood area. One city firefighter was treated and released from a hospital after a fall from a ladder while battling one blaze. No other injuries were reported.

All of the fires on Friday were in a 2-square-mile area and most were in densely populated residential neighborhoods where residents would likely be asleep.