Arson Unit Opened for Northern Part of County
- Share via
A 43% increase in arson cases this year in the fast-growing desert and mountain areas north of Los Angeles has led the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to install a new fire investigation team in Lancaster, the first such satellite office in the county.
Lt. Ken Chausse, commander of the Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Unit, said Monday that the number of arson cases in the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys has grown from 350 in the first six months of 1989 to 500 in the same period this year.
The caseload has overburdened the investigator currently assigned to the areas, Chausse said.
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.
