Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office: Whittier Man Charged With Setting Fire That Damaged Half-Dozen Homes

Hermosa Beach CA

26 February, 2022

10:58 PM

Description

Press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office: February 14, 2022 Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that a Whittier man was charged today with setting an arson fire which destroyed two homes and severely damaged four others. "This fire could have had fatal consequences and even though it didn't, there was tremendous loss for several families due to the unnecessary actions of one individual," said District Attorney Gascón. "My office will offer services to all of the victims affected by this blaze." Kevin Whitlock (dob 6/5/67) faces six counts of arson of an inhabited structure or property and one count each of arson of property of another and arson of a structure or forest. Arraignment for case VA157723 was scheduled today but continued to tomorrow in Department 7 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Downey Branch. On Feb. 10, Whitlock allegedly started the fire above a small trail in a brush area below the rim of several houses on two streets. The fire quickly spread up the hill aided by windy conditions. Parts of six houses were ultimately burned, two were devastated. Another home suffered fire damage to the backyard. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Arson Unit. This press release was produced by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The views expressed here are the author's own.