A homeless guy got arrested for starting a fire related to the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles. Folks in Woodland Hills spotted him using something that looked like a flamethrower to set stuff on fire. Witnesses said he was trying to torch old Christmas trees and garbage cans when they stepped in and held him until the cops arrived.
The LAPD is looking into some arson cases and thinks the suspect might be connected to the Kenneth Fire, which has burned about 960 acres and is still not under control. This fire is just one of several bad wildfires happening in the area, like the Palisades, Eaton, and Sunset fires, which together have scorched nearly 30,000 acres. These wildfires have forced many people to evacuate and sadly led to at least 10 deaths.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was seen riding a bicycle and using what appeared to be a blowtorch to start fires. Residents acted swiftly to stop him, with one witness stating, “We really banded together as a group.” The man was detained until police arrived and took him into custody.
The LAPD has not yet confirmed a connection between the suspect and the Kenneth Fire. They stated, “We cannot confirm any connection to any fire by this suspect at this time.” However, the department is treating the area where the fire started as a crime scene and continues to investigate the cause of the blaze.
The Kenneth Fire started Thursday afternoon, prompting evacuation orders for Hidden Hills and Calabasas. While some orders have been downgraded, the fire remains a serious threat due to dry conditions and strong winds. Firefighters are working hard to contain it.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges Los Angeles faces as it deals with several wildfires in dry conditions and strong winds. Authorities are investigating the causes of these fires and are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
For a visual account of the arrest, you can watch the following video:
