The authorities arrested a man early on Monday suspected of setting 53 arson fires in and around Hollywood which rattled Los Angeles residents over the New Year's weekend.

The suspect, reportedly a 55-year-old German citizen who is upset over the deportation of his mother, allegedly set 11 fires between midnight, Los Angeles fire Capt. Jaime Moore said in a news conference.

The suspect, whose name was being withheld, resembled a "person of interest" captured on videotape Saturday near a carport and was stopped early Monday in a van that matched a description given by witnesses.

It remains unclear what the motive for the fires is and exactly how law enforcement authorities came to focus on him.

Although there were no serious civilian injuries, someone was given oxygen after breathing some smoke and a firefighter suffered an unspecified minor injury, Moore said.

Extra firemen were reporting to stations across Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Burbank and Glendale within the Los Angeles County, as the authorities were conducting a multi-agency campaign.

A telephone hotline was set up, and witnesses were interviewed and tips followed.

Police urged residents to check their cars for any signs of tampering and to take simple precautions such as locking vehicles, keeping garage and carport lights on at night and reporting suspicious activity.

A total of 53 fires were set around the city since Friday representing the worst wave of arson since 1992 riots.

Property damage totals were in the 2 million U.S. dollars range, Moore said.

Xinhua