Man held over Los Angeles arson attacks

Police have arrested a man in connection with a wave of 53 arson fires across Los Angeles.

Harry Burkhart, a 24-year-old German citizen, was taken into custody after a reserve sheriff's deputy spotted him driving a van similar to one being sought after a string of fires set in Los Angeles, Hollywood and surrounding communities.

Authorities arrested Mr Burkhart, a Hollywood resident, on suspicion of arson.

"Our long, four-day nightmare is over," Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said at a press conference.

"This has been literally a nightmare for people who live on the west side of LA, the San Fernando Valley and West Hollywood," Mr Yaroslavsky said.

"I live in that community and I haven't had a good night's sleep since last week. I'm looking forward to that tonight."

Mr Burkhart is expected to be advised of the charges against him at a hearing tomorrow.

Authorities declined to comment on a Los Angeles Times report that Mr Burkhart was embroiled in an immigration dispute with the federal government over the status of his mother.

The first of the more than 50 arson blazes broke out on Friday.

The spate of fires, most of them set in cars and parking structures, some spreading to carports and homes, continued into the early morning hours of yesterday morning.

The attacks left residents on edge over the New Year weekend, as fires broke out seemingly at random across neighbourhoods.