A Little Early, But Have a Happy New Year

Hollywood Arsonist Damages Jim Morrison’s Former House

Los Angeles officials are urging continued public vigilance after a series of arson fires overnight. At least $35,000 in rewards is being offered for information leading to the conviction of an arsonist or arsonists who torched more than a dozen locations in the Hollywood area early today. The four-hour fire onslaught started shortly after midnight. (AP)

One of the houses hit was Jim Morrison’s Laurel Canyon home. The fire — at 8021 Rothdell Trail in Hollywood — broke out at 1:20 a.m. in a nearby car, then spread to the house.

Morrison lived in the 1922 Hollywood home with his girlfriend Pamela Courson. It’s where he wrote the Doors album “Waiting for the Sun” and portions of “The Soft Parade.”

The Laurel Canyon street on which it’s located also was the inspiration for the Doors song “Love Street,” which played during the closing credits of a season two episode of “Entourage.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, 56 firefighters responded to the blaze, which took 35 minutes to contain. One of the firefighters was injured in a fall from a ladder on the ground. He is in stable condition at a local hospital. (The Wrap, AP photo)