University police had received three reports of fires in Westwood’s North Village as of 11:30 p.m. late Saturday night, following the UCLA football team’s Saturday victory over their crosstown rival, USC.
At about 10:30 p.m., police were notified about a vacuum cleaner that was set on fire on the corner of Levering Avenue and Roebling Avenue. The fire was put out within minutes, said UCPD officer Jim Lunnen.
At about 11 p.m., a couch was set on fire in the middle of the street near 540 Midvale Ave., Lunnen said.
A crowd of about 100 people gathered in the street around the couch and chanted UCLA cheers before numerous police officers arrived and put out the fire, said Isabella Europa, a fourth-year anthropology student who could see the fire from her apartment on Midvale Avenue.
“It was huge,” Europa said. “The entire couch was engulfed.”
The third fire was ablaze in Westwood sometime before 6:30 p.m., but police could not provide a more detailed description at the late hour, Lunnen said.
Police believe Saturday’s instances were inspired by similar fires that occurred in Westwood after UCLA’s previous win over USC in 2006, Lunnen said.
“People see the pictures (of past fires) circulating on Facebook and think that is what they are supposed to do,” Lunnen said.
University police have increased the number of patrolling officers in the area Saturday night in preparation for any potential spike in crime in the aftermath of Saturday’s game, Lunnen said.
Compiled by Erin Donnelly, Bruin senior staff