A Los Angeles man is accused of turning both a downtown Fashion District warehouse and a Canoga Park gentleman’s club into crime scenes, in what prosecutors describe as a three-fire arson spree that put workers and firefighters in harm’s way. No one was hurt, but officials say the stakes were high, especially when one of the fires broke out inside an electrical vault.
Charges and custody
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged 47-year-old Cyrus Farsaad with one felony count of arson of property and two counts of arson of a structure. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail.
Prosecutors say Farsaad faces a potential sentence of 14 years and four months in prison if convicted, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Local context
Canoga Park has already had a tense winter when it comes to commercial fires. Local fire logs show that Los Angeles firefighters knocked down a nightclub blaze in late January that caused heavy smoke and heat damage but, fortunately, no injuries.
That earlier response underscored how quickly a single commercial blaze can threaten neighboring businesses and tie up fire resources, as seen when crews extinguished a nightclub blaze in 19 minutes.
Why electrical vault fires are particularly dangerous
Electrical vaults and underground utility rooms are a worst-case scenario for many firefighters. These tight spaces can produce explosions or funnel toxic smoke through conduits into offices, shops, or other occupied areas above.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has pointed to a 2008 vault explosion that killed firefighter Brent Lovrien and injured others as a stark reminder of those dangers, according to the LAFD.
What prosecutors allege
Prosecutors say the recent series started on March 2, when Farsaad allegedly set a fire inside an electrical vault at a Fashion District warehouse. The flames reportedly burned out on their own, but the danger was obvious enough that, according to the charges, Farsaad came back six days later and set the vault on fire again.
In between those two alleged incidents, prosecutors say Farsaad went to a Canoga Park gentleman’s club on March 5 and set that building ablaze. The club reportedly sustained significant charring along with heavy heat and smoke damage. The warehouse fires caused only minor damage and no injuries, but authorities note that the outcome could easily have been different.
“Serial arsonists pose a grave threat to our communities,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said, and investigators with the Los Angeles Fire Department have echoed that fires in electrical systems and occupied businesses pose direct risks both to civilians and to firefighters on the line.
Farsaad is expected back in court on April 7, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Court and legal implications
Under California law, arson is a felony, with penalties that depend on what was burned and whether anyone was hurt. Arson of property can carry 16 months to three years in state prison. Arson of a structure is punishable by two, four, or six years, per California Penal Code §451.
If prosecutors secure multiple convictions or establish aggravating factors, those sentences and any applicable enhancements can stack and significantly increase prison exposure.
Detectives with the county Arson Unit are continuing to investigate in coordination with the Los Angeles Fire Department. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the fires to contact law enforcement as the case moves toward its next court date in April.
