An alleged trespasser was arrested Wednesday after a brief confrontation with police at a burning apartment building in Panorama City.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire was reported in the 9000 block of N. Tobias Avenue around 2:50 p.m. Crews arrived to find flames in a unit on the second floor of a three-story building.
Shortly before firefighters arrived, Los Angeles Police Department officers were called to the same location after learning of a possible suspect in a trespass that quickly turned into a barricade.
Although officers have not confirmed that the suspect started the fire, they believe there is a connection, they told KCAL News.
Around 3:30 p.m., the fire brigade reported that they had extinguished all flames. They were able to limit damage to one unit, but smoke was so heavy on the second floor that the adjacent unit will “likely” be uninhabitable, firefighters noted.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and police are still working to determine the suspect’s connection to the fire.
“There are no patients with medical complaints,” the fire brigade said.
