A 48‑year‑old man has been charged with multiple felony counts of arson following a series of fires in Los Angeles, including one at a strip club, authorities announced.
Arson Allegations and Arrest
According to a March 20 news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Cyrus Farsaad was arrested and charged in connection with three separate fires.
Prosecutors allege that Farsaad first set fire to an electrical vault inside a warehouse in the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles on March 2. That fire self‑extinguished, but Farsaad allegedly returned to the same site on March 8 and ignited the vault again. While the second fire spread, it did not result in major damage or injuries.
In between those incidents, on March 5, Farsaad is accused of setting a fire at a gentlemen’s club in the Canoga Park neighborhood in west Los Angeles. That blaze caused “significant charring, heat and smoke damage to the structure,” according to the DA’s office, though no injuries were reported.
The District Attorney’s Office described Farsaad as a “serial arsonist” and charged him with one felony count of arson of property and two felony counts of arson of structure.
Court Proceedings and Potential Penalties
Farsaad pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on March 19. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 7, the DA’s office said. If convicted, he could face up to 14 years and four months in prison.
He is currently being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, with bond set at $200,000, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department booking records. It is not immediately clear whether he has obtained legal representation.
Officials Condemn Arson
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman emphasized the danger posed by serial arsonists, saying, “Serial arsonists pose a grave threat to our communities. They threaten property, livelihoods and put lives at risk.
This conduct will not be tolerated.” He also commended the Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles Police Department for swiftly apprehending the suspect.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Thomas Raymond stressed that arson is more than a property crime, noting that it poses a direct threat “to civilian lives and to every firefighter we send in to stop it.”
