Before the sun had yet risen, residents of Silver Lake, near the 101 Freeway and Coronado St, awoke to sirens and the glow of flames with multiple small fires actively burning along the freeway wall. Less than eight hours later, the Los Angeles City Fire Department Arson and Counter Terrorism Section identified, located and arrested a suspect.

Between 4:36 am and approximately 6:00 am on February 19, 2021, six arson fires, involving vegetation, occurred near Coronado St and the 101 freeway in the Silver Lake neighborhood.  While firefighters worked to protect all property and extinguish the various fires, LAFD arson investigators responded and saturated the area looking for evidence.

Investigators conducted scene examinations and contacted multiple witnesses in the area. This community teamwork resulted in investigators positively identifying a suspect within four hours of the first fire.  At approximately 12:37PM, a LAFD arson investigator canvassing the area of the first fire located and arrested the suspect without incident.  Subsequently, the suspect admitted to starting all six fires.

The suspect is identified as Edgar Saavedra-Recinos of Los Angeles and was booked by our LAPD partners for violation of section 451(c) Arson of Forest Land of the California Penal Code. This case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday for felony filing consideration.

The assistance provided by the witnesses within the community was critical to identifying and ultimately arresting the suspect. Their willingness to step forward and take an active role in protecting their neighborhood from harm is appreciated and commended.