Man Arrested for Igniting Series of Fires in Burbank

Man Arrested for Igniting Series of Fires in Burbank
The siren of a police vehicle in a file photo. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
City News Service
8/8/2023
Updated:
8/8/2023
0:00

Police arrested a 31-year-old Reseda man on Aug. 8 on suspicion of arson following a series of fires set overnight in Burbank.

The Burbank Police Department and Burbank Fire Department responded to at least 11 separate reports regarding an unidentified person setting dumpsters, bushes, and trash on fire in the southwest area of the city between 10:20 p.m. Aug. 7 and 1:40 a.m. Aug. 8, according to Burbank police.

The fires were quickly extinguished to prevent any nearby structural damage and no injuries were reported.

A 12th fire was reported around 1:40 a.m. behind a Starbucks in the 300 block of North Pass Avenue. Police discovered cardboard on fire at the rear of the building upon arrival and immediately had the flames knocked down.

Investigators conducted a search for a suspect in the area and detained Tigran Gazdhyan as a person of interest inside a nearby Vons. He was arrested and booked on suspicion of multiple counts of arson and probation violation.

Mr. Gazdhyan was being held without bail and is due in court on Aug. 10, police said. He is believed to be responsible for additional fires in the Toluca Lake area, and investigators are looking into further leads.

Anyone with information about the fires was urged to contact Detective Cameron Mencuri at 818-238-3210.