BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Man accused in fire has trial continued

A preliminary hearing scheduled for a Glendale transient charged in connection with starting a five-acre fire at Griffith Park last month was rescheduled.

Gary Allen Lintz, 43, will appear Oct. 20 before a Los Angeles Superior Court judge for his preliminary hearing, court officials said.

Lintz pleaded not guilty Aug. 26 to four counts of arson. He was arrested and charged with arson after being identified as a person of interest in the Aug. 23 blaze. He is being held without bail.

The fire — which was the ninth blaze at Griffith Park since July 27 — started at 2 p.m. and then quickly spread across five acres of hillside.

On Aug. 16, five fires broke out in the park.

Los Angeles city officials said the fires appeared to be suspicious.

Fire officials would not comment on the possible causes pending an arson investigation.

Lintz was found guilty last year for setting several papers on fire at a house that was in the process of being demolished at Central Avenue and Salem Street in Glendale, police said.