Authorities look for person with gas can after two fires reported in Chinatown
- Share via
Two fires were reported within 15 minutes and a block of each other in Los Angeles’s Chinatown neighborhood Wednesday morning where authorities said they were investigating reports of a person walking around with a gas can.
Both fires were reported on North Broadway shortly before 2 a.m., said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz.
The first fire was put out in 14 minutes and was contained to the outside of a two-story building at the Chinese restaurant Broadway Cuisine at 913 North Broadway. Police officers also responded to the scene after receiving a report of a person walking with a gas can, said LAPD officer David Cuellar.
However, no one was found when officers arrived, he said.
The second fire was reported at 2:15 a.m. at the Hong Ning grocery store at 827 North Broadway. That fire was put out in nine minutes, according to the LAFD. Police responded to that fire shortly after 3 a.m. but were unable to locate a suspect.
The cause into each fire is ongoing and no description of a suspect was immediately available.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
