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Number Of LA Fires Suspicious In Nature Now At 39

Update (As Of 8:30 a.m.): At a briefing Sunday, fire officials said that 39 fires suspicious and similar in nature have occurred in the city of Los Angeles and West Hollywood within the past 72 hours.

However, fire officials do say they are investigating other incidents.

Authorities also report that since Dec. 30, firefighters have experienced a 17 percent increase in their call load citywide.

HOLLYWOOD (CBS) — Firefighters and emergency crews had a very busy New Year's Eve as relentless fires, believed to be arson, continued with at least six more in or around the West Hollywood and Hollywood areas.

The fires started in cars, similar to dozens set in recent days. The latest was reported at a building and carport on Sweetzer Avenue Saturday evening. Fortunately, no civilians or firefighters were injured.

Suspicious Fires Plague LA
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At the scene of another fire Saturday - this one on Fountain Avenue and near Mansfield Avenue - arson investigators arrived on scene in time to collect evidence, including a pair of black gloves that were found underneath the front of a car.

Moments later and just one block away, neighbors said a glow came from under another vehicle in a carport.

"They're looking at each one of these individually and then they are looking at them as a whole, as an umbrella to see how they all relate," said Capt. Jaime Moore of Los Angeles City Fire.

"Our arson investigators are doing everything to canvas these fire scenes and take anything that looks suspicious away with them," Moore added.

Authorities aren't revealing much about the progress of their investigation but as KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports they are looking over surveillance video.

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Meantime, a combination of rewards in the sum of $60,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

Edward Lawrence, reporting for CBS2 at 11 p.m., said that police have already questioned three people about the arson attacks but no arrests have been made.

Authorities are urging the public to dial 911 to report suspicious activity. Police are also asking residents to keep their porch and carport lights on.

"If you see something, say something," said Assistant Chief Patrick Butler of Los Angeles Fire Department.

Elsewhere in Glendale, two fires were reported within minutes of each other.

The first, reported around 9:30 p.m., broke out in a shed-type structure in the 5900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The second was reported at 9:56 p.m.  along 900 East Acacia Avenue. It's still unclear if these fires are at all related to the arson attacks.

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» 8 Vehicles Destroyed, 6 More Damaged In South Los Angeles Carport Arson
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» Arson Suspected In At Least 13 New Fires In North Hollywood
» Hunt For LA Arsonist Intensifies
» $60K Reward Offered To Catch Hollywood Arson Suspects
» LAPD On Tactical Alert After Arsonist Starts 19 Fires

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