As Southern California continues to recover from a series of devastating fires, including the Eaton Fire in Altadena & Pasadena, The South Pasadena Police Department made an arrest on Saturday, January 18, 2025, in connection with a fire in South Pasadena near Pasadena Avenue.
It has not yet been reported whether arson is suspected in the earlier “Teresa” Fire that occurred on January 7 or if the arrested individual has any connection to that incident. FOR THAT REPORT CLICK HERE
At approximately 10:00 a.m., the South Pasadena Communications Center began receiving calls reporting flames around a power pole in the 200 block of Pasadena Avenue. Responding officers found the immediate area engulfed in flames and received witness accounts of a man seen fleeing the scene.
South Pasadena Fire Engine 81 (E81) was dispatched to a reported trash fire behind 205 Pasadena Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a small blaze pressed against a building. Thanks to their quick response, the fire was extinguished before causing significant damage, although the building’s exterior was left stained by smoke.
Officers began searching for the suspect, identified later as 42-year-old Rene Cortez of Los Angeles. Shortly after the initial fire, the Communications Center received a report of a suspicious individual entering a vacant property in the 100 block of Monterey Road. Officers detained Cortez at the location. Initially arrested on unrelated charges, further investigation uncovered evidence linking him to the fire on Pasadena Avenue.
Cortez now faces charges of P.C. 451(d) – Arson and P.C. 454(a)(2) – Committing Arson During a State of Emergency.
The South Pasadena Fire Department’s Accelerant Detection K9, Delta, played a crucial role in the investigation conducted by the City’s Arson Investigation Team, which thoroughly examined the fire’s origin and cause.
This arrest comes as fire dangers remain a pressing concern across the region. The greater Los Angeles area has been grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic blazes, including the Eaton Fire, which displaced residents and caused widespread destruction.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the Pasadena Avenue fire to contact the South Pasadena Police Department at (626) 403-7270. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
The investigation remains active as officials work to determine if there are any broader connections to other incidents. This case highlights the swift action of local law enforcement and fire personnel in mitigating fire risks and holding suspects accountable during a heightened period of fire danger.
