L.A. arson suspect tells officers he ‘liked the smell of burning leaves’

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell provided details Wednesday on two arson suspects arrested not far from the current fire zone.

Officers responded to the first incident around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday near Glenoaks and Van Nuys boulevards. McDonnell said a citizen had detained a possible arson suspect and extinguished a fire in a nearby tree.

“During the investigation, the suspect admitted to starting the fire because he liked the smell of burning leaves,” McDonnell said.

The unidentified suspect was arrested and booked on suspicion of arson.

Later that evening, around 9:30 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of a female setting multiple piles of rubbish and trash on fire near North Santa Monica Boulevard and North Vermont Avenue.

Officers took the unidentified suspect into custody as firefighters quickly extinguished the rubbish fires.

“The suspect admitted to setting multiple fires that day and stated that she enjoyed causing chaos and destruction,” McDonnell said.

The unidentified woman was also arrested and booked on suspicion of arson.

McDonnell then called on the public to continue to be vigilant in reporting suspicious activity.

“There are people out there who, this is what they do. If you know of those people, please give us a call before something really bad happens,” he said.