Executive Summary
- The LAPD has ruled the February 4 Hollywood fire that killed two elderly sisters as arson.
- Police have linked the fatal blaze to a series of other fires in the same area, including one in January.
- Victims were identified as sisters Chelo (76) and Yola (82), who had lived in the home for decades.
- Detectives are currently canvassing the neighborhood and reviewing evidence to identify a suspect.
A fatal house fire in Hollywood that claimed the lives of two elderly sisters on February 4 has been formally classified as arson and linked to a series of other suspicious fires in the area, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
During a police commission meeting on Tuesday, department officials confirmed that the blaze on North Vista Del Mar Avenue is part of a broader pattern. “The fire was determined to be arson,” officials stated during the meeting. “Further investigation revealed that multiple additional fires were reported in close proximity during the same early morning time period, as well as a similar fire reported in the area in late January.”
The victims were identified as 76-year-old Chelo and 82-year-old Yola, who had resided in the home since the 1970s. According to statements provided by the family on a donation platform, Yola had moved into the residence to serve as a full-time caretaker for her sister following emergency hip surgery. Family members told Eyewitness News that video footage captured Chelo on the front porch during the fire, stating she needed to rescue her sister, but neither woman survived. Chelo was pronounced dead at the scene, while Yola succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.
Anna, a neighbor who owns the property adjacent to the destroyed home, expressed outrage regarding the incident. “I mean, it’s one thing having your property destroyed, but then it’s murder,” Anna told reporters, characterizing the act of igniting an occupied home early in the morning as “pure evil” due to the high probability of residents being present.
The family also reported that Chelo’s dog, Coco, remains missing, though they expressed hope that the animal may have escaped. Police indicated that the investigation is active, with detectives canvassing the neighborhood and reviewing available evidence.
Investigative Outlook
The classification of this incident as arson effectively shifts the inquiry from a fire investigation to a double homicide case. The establishment of a link to prior fires suggests a serial pattern, prompting investigators to analyze the methodology and timing of the attacks to identify a perpetrator. At this stage, law enforcement has not publicly identified a suspect. It is important to note that while the act has been ruled a crime, no specific individuals have yet been charged in connection with the fatalities.
