LOS ANGELES — An arsonist set numerous vehicle fires early today that spread to nearby houses and apartment buildings in Hollywood and neighboring West Hollywood, including a home once occupied by Doors frontman Jim Morrison.

The four-hour onslaught started after midnight and sent firefighters scrambling to douse fires in at least a dozen locations. In nearly every case, the fire started in a parked car.

Dozens of people were rousted from their homes, power was disrupted in several neighborhoods and Los Angeles police were put on tactical alert in the Hollywood area. One city firefighter was treated and released from a hospital after a fall while battling one blaze.

Arson investigators from the police and sheriff’s departments said there was no suspect description and they were looking for building security videos and witnesses.

One of the homes damaged by the fires was in Laurel Canyon where Morrison and his girlfriend once lived, neighbors said.

Sandy Gendel, who owns a nearby restaurant, said he heard explosions from what he later believed were car tires. He saw flames 30 feet high coming from the deck of the former Morrison house and a gutted Mazda Miata.

“It was just like a towering inferno,” Gendel said.