HERMOSA BEACH - A two-alarm fire damaged a three-story home under construction in Hermosa Beach and spread to four other nearby homes before it was extinguished.
Hermosa Beach Police detained and later arrested a suspect who was found near the scene of the fire. He is Michael Christopher Kotva, age 27. He was charged with arson and booked at the Hermosa Beach Police Department jail. Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators will lead the investigation into the cause of the fire.
This is what the fire scene looked like a few hours after the blaze broke out in #HermosaBeach @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/blPpSDIHAm
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird)
June 13, 2019 "It's not unusual for someone to possibly stick around in an arson case," Inspector Brian Stevens of the Los Angeles County Fire Department told ABC7. "Right now, this is under investigation, it's not deemed an arson yet. But, the L.A. County Fire Department Arson Unit does have someone detained and they are going to be questioning him on the cause."
The fire was first reported about 2 a.m. near the intersection of Eighth Street and Hermosa Avenue, officials said.
Knockdown was declared about 3.a.m.
One firefighter was slightly injured fighting this blaze on the edge of the sand in #HermosaBeach. It’s surprising the whole block didn’t burn down. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/tnjlLrohcD
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird)
June 13, 2019 Video from the scene showed flames on nearby homes. Four homes were damaged and some residents were briefly evacuated, Stevens said.
A spectacular fire destroys a home under construction on #TheStrand in #HermosaBeach. 4 other homes damaged. Video by Key Write. No one hurt. Suspicious fire. One person in custody. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/6W1XxZSa6N
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird)
June 13, 2019 No injuries were reported.
