LAPD have made an arrest of a man in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles for suspected arson connected to the Kenneth Fire, which is now advancing toward Hidden Hills and Calabasa.
According to the authorities, the fire, that has since been spreading uncontrollably due to the high winds, was lit on purpose.
Speaking to NewsNation Charles Dinsel, a senior lead officer in the LAPD, said: “What we know right now is that the incident occurred, started here, and about 20 minutes [to] 30 minutes later a suspect was detained over the Woodland Hills area by citizens.”
The Kenneth Fire has burned more than 950 acres.
As per Fox News, the arrest happened around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, near the area of Arcos Drive and Galendo Street. The residents in the area witnessed a man on a bicycle carrying a torch and trying to lit old Christmas trees and garbage cans on fire. Luckily, they managed to stop him and even zip-tie him.
They detained the man until police arrived at the scene.
Authorities didn’t reveal the suspect’s identity. They are investigating whether he started other fires as well.
Initially, the LAPD stated, “There’s no way to know at this moment exactly where and how the series of fires started, but an investigation is underway.”
Celebrities such as Henry Winkler, Chris Brown, and Elizabeth Chambers pointed to intentional arson, leading to this response.
The death toll of the LA wildfires reached 10 and left many injured. Unfortunately, it is still uncontrolled despite the efforts by the firefighters to stop it.
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So far, the wildfires destroyed at least 10,000 buildings, including iconic landmarks.
“We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds,” LA Mayor Karen Bass said.
Authorities believe that the Kenneth Fire, the latest in the series of fires that destroyed parts of LA, have originated in the San Fernando Valley, adjacent to Ventura County and the West Hills neighborhood in northwest Los Angeles.
The Kenneth Fire is burning north of the Palisades Fire.
Cal Fire reports that the Lidia Fire, the northernmost blaze, is now 75% contained and no longer classified as a California Fire incident.
As of now, Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire remain the largest blazes and represent a significant threat
