Arson in Griffith Park?
This is the 3rd fire in gp near the zoo, in a month. And now arson is suspected, writes Channel2. There is nothing in the LAFD blog yet about it.
Firefighters say they have detected as many as five separate ignition points as they battle a series of brush fires in Griffith Park Saturday, the third likely arson incident near the Los Angeles Zoo in three weeks.
Note that the alert Kristin Sabo, who is caretaker of Amir’s Garden in the park, suspected arson on July 29, in my comments. This was the day of the first fire, and she said as much to Officer Humphreys of the LAFD:
I assume the arson unit is working on this fire. From my excellent vantage point at the Garden, the ignition point was in a location that pretty much screams “arson”. That makes me very nervous…
The Channel 2 news reports what I asked Officer Humphreys about 2 weeks ago, although I haven’t heard back from him yet:
No cause was ever announced for that fire, or for another small fire that burned 3-5 acres on Aug. 5.
I have pictures of the water helicopter here.
Donna Barstow
Griffith Park is the 2nd biggest park in the US, and I'm just the person to investigate it! I've lived here for over 25 years. I was part of the PROS Committee in Griffith Park Neighborhood Council and am on the Housing & Tenants Rights Committee in the Silver Lake NC. I'm in the LA Press Club, and you can find some of my articles in the LA Weekly and the Los Feliz Ledger. I'm a cartoonist for Parade Magazine, The New Yorker, LA Times, Slate, & most major media. Questions and contacts welcome.
3 Comments
Kristin Sabo
I had a good view again of this Saturday’s fire and I hold to my views on cause as well as the excellent LAFD, LA Co FD, and Park Ranger response.
So rather than freaking out about the cause, let’s all be extra vigilant — if you see anyone doing ANYTHING suspicious, call the Park Rangers dispatch immediately since they’re in the park already: 323-644-6661
And then of course, there’s 911, but in Griffith from cell phones, you usually get CHP and if you are in a park location that does not have a physical address (such as Amir’s Garden), you really want to be calling the Rangers. It’s their territory and they know the places that don’t have physical addresses associated with them. Word I’ve gotten back from people who use 911 in the park is that CHP often tells 911 callers without ultra-serious calls to hang up and phone the Park Rangers.
One excellent way to state physical locations without physical addresses in Griffith Park is by the numbers clearly painted on all active fire hydrants — each has two numbers on it, one is the grid number, one is the hydrant number. It’s only important to read the top and bottom number to dispatch — you don’t have to know which number is specifically which other than top and bottom. Dispatch will go to the LAFD’s excellent fire map and look up the location.
By way of example, the hydrant at Amir’s Garden has a 31 at the top and a 19 at the bottom. For the record, the hydrant location is in Griffith Park fire grid 31, and it is hydrant #19.
So everyone — keep your eyes and ears open, and 323-644-6661 programmed on speed dial in your cell phone!!
Robin Brock
From: “LaBonge News”
Date: August 18, 2008 4:39:35 PM PDT
Subject: Griffith Park Fires Special Meeting
Good Afternoon:
Please join Councilmember LaBonge, Los Angeles fire officials and Griffith Park Rangers tomorrow evening to hear about the suspicious fires in Griffith Park over the weekend. They will present a brief update on the investigation and answer any questions you may have.
Please join us at:
DATE: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
LOCATION: Griffith Park Visitors Center, 4730 Crystal Springs Drive
If you cannot attend, please remember to call 9-1-1 if you see any suspicious activity that you believe may be related to the recent fires. Do not attempt to intervene.
Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation.
Kristin Sabo
“…If you cannot attend, please remember to call 9-1-1 if you see any suspicious activity that you believe may be related to the recent fires…”
Again, 9-1-1 from a cell phone in Griffith Park gets most of you…. the California Highway Patrol.
See something suspicious? Call the Park Rangers: 323-644-6661