Arson suspect charged in connection with Whittier blaze

A man who was found with burn injuries near the scene of a fire in the Whittier area that damaged six homes amid Santa Ana wind conditions was charged Monday with a series of arson counts.

Kevin Whitlock, 55, was charged with six counts of arson of an inhabited structure or property and one count each of arson of property of another and arson of a structure or forest, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Downey. He remains jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail, according to sheriff’s records.

The fire was first reported about 2:30 p.m. Thursday near Cinco View Drive and East Banyon Rim Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Fixed-wing aircraft and more than 200 firefighters were sent to battle the flames, which quickly engulfed one home and spread to several others. In the end, two homes were destroyed and four others were damaged, authorities said.

The suspect was found on a hiking trail with a “non-lethal” burn injury and was taken to a hospital. He was subsequently arrested.

The fire was 100% contained by Thursday night, the fire department reported.