N. Hollywood Residents Go on the Alert to Avert Arson

Residents of a North Hollywood neighborhood that has been plagued by arson fires said they are nervous and upset but determined to put an end to the blazes.

“Our awareness is extremely acute. Our eyes are very wide open and our ears are finely tuned,” said Stephanie Tapper, a free-lance artist and writer. “We are observing our block and who is walking up and down our street.”

Tapper organized a community meeting Friday night that drew more than 50 people from the North Hollywood neighborhood around Bellingham Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. More than 14 fires have been set in garages and alleys in that area since Jan. 1, said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Bill Bisson. Several cars have burned in the fires.

Tapper said she was compelled to act after an arsonist set two fires on the same night in the garage of her apartment building.

“It became fairly clear to me that we had something going on here that was not the norm,” Tapper said.

At the meeting, held at North Hollywood High School, firefighters urged the residents to look out for suspicious people in their neighborhoods and to try to prevent fires by disposing of trash properly, removing combustible items from garages and keeping garages locked and well-lit.

Tapper said the residents of her building are also developing an emergency evacuation plan and checking to make sure smoke detectors work properly.