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Dec. 06--LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Authorities in Long Beach are investigating a string of suspicious fires over the past six months.
The fires, 22 in all, were set in the Central Long Beach area beginning in May. They were set in trash cans, cars and in commercial structures, according to a news release issued by the Long Beach Fire Department. Investigators have deemed many of the fires to have been caused by arson.
The latest fires -- that came of Thanksgiving weekend -- came more than seven months after a suspected serial arsonist was arrested, authorities said.
26-year-old Joshua Ethan Thomas was charged with 27 felony counts in April.
The charges include attempted murder, arson, burglary, attempted arson, possession of flammable material and attempting to burn property.
Two victims were inside their homes when the fires were started.
One of their beds was set on fire while the victim slept.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) is working with Long Beach police and fire investigation. The ATF is offering two separated $5,000 rewards for tips leading to the capture and conviction of the person who set two of the commercial building fires and the two car fires.
"Someone knows who is doing these senseless acts, so I urge all the good citizens of Long Beach who may know something about these fires to please call the Arson Hotline, said Karl Anglin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge ATF Los Angeles Field Division. "We will not let this case go; the individual involved shows a careless disregard for the public's safety. ATF and the Long Beach Fire Department Arson Unit will use every investigative tool available to pursue the person(s) behind these crimes before someone gets hurt. These $5,000 rewards being offered by ATF are just one of those tools."
Anyone with information on the fires is urged to call the Long Beach Fire Department's Arson Hotline at 562-570-2582.
