As L.A. burns, Chicago watches: arson suspect arrested

On Monday, Jan. 2, a 24-year-old man named Harry Burkhart was arrested in connection with multiple counts of arson in Los Angeles. Burkhart was a resident of Hollywood and a German national who has repeatedly claimed to officials that he is from Frankfurt.

His crimes were the result of more than 50 fires that lasted for four days over New Year's weekend. Not only were cars set a blazing, but the fire quickly spread to other buildings around them, some of which were occupied by sleeping residents.

The fires that were started are considered to be some of the worst arson incidents in the city since the riots of 1992. The property damage Burkhart cost is estimated to be around $3 million.

Luckily, no civilians were injured in the fires, but the blazes left a trail of smoldering debris in Hollywood, West Hollywood, North Hollywood and the Fairfax district.

Although firefighters from Los Angeles have not reported any other suspicious fires since Burkhart's arrest, they are still keeping a close eye out when it comes unexpected fires around the city.

On the other hand, Los Angeles is not the only city keeping a watch for these sorts of criminal occurrences. Even the city of Chicago keeps a close eye on such situations with the full knowledge of the type of destruction that fires bring to residents and property.

"Watching for these types of issues is just normal procedure. But it is still good to be always be aware of your surroundings, and to be particularly alert. If you see something suspicious, don't be afraid to dial 911," said Richard Rosado, a member of the Chicago Fire Department.

These types of issues can be alarming since DePaul is located in the city, but students have taken this situation in to account and are "staying on their toes."

"If anything, I try to be more observant of the people around me and aware of my surroundings. I don't think anyone can be overly cautious when it comes to these sorts of situations," said freshman Carolyn Maynard, majoring in media & communications.

"I'm glad they caught [Burkhart], and for students at DePaul, I would just like to say that if you see anything suspicious stay calm and contact the police immediately. If you are on campus, contact Public Safety," said Resident Advisor Sekordri Lewis.

Obviously, DePaul University has nothing to worry about since these crimes of arson took place in Los Angeles However, it is important to keep and eye out and have a fire escape plan in case of such an emergency. You never know if one day it will save your life.