Suspect Arrested In 'Suspicious' East Hollywood Apartment Fire

EAST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a fire that destroyed an apartment building under construction in East Hollywood.

The fire at a three-story building at 421 N. Heliotrope Drive was reported just after 6 a.m. with heavy fire and exposures, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department's Amy Bastman.

Benicio Garcia, 20, was taken into custody Monday and booked for arson.

Police say he does not have a known address.

The cause of the fire was listed as "suspicious and incendiary."

One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital in good condition.

The heat from the fire blew out some windows of the adjacent apartment building, which was occupied. A nearby house and garage was also damaged by the fire.

The fire was declared out after 6:50 a.m.

Twenty people, including 10 children, were displaced due to the fire and were being assisted by the American Red Cross.