The fast-moving inferno that sparked mass evacuations in Calabasas and Hidden Hills is being investigated as arson, with one suspect arrested – as the death toll from the city’s fires reaching double figures.
The Kenneth Fire is tearing through the West Hills at a rapid rate, with 900 exhausted first responders pulled from other high priority infernos in southern California to protect homes and try to contain the fiery flames.
It is just one of three intense fires – Palisades, Kenneth, and Eaton – burning out-of-control across the City of Angels.
Amid long list of injured people, the death toll has reached 10 and at least 10,000 structures have been wiped out, with celebrities including Paris Hilton, Denise Crosby, and Milo Ventimiglia now amongst the A-listers who have seen their homes reduced to ash.
LAPD senior lead officer Charles Dinsel has told NewsNation that a suspect is in custody, who is believed to have intentionally caused the out-of-control Kenneth Fire.
‘About 20 to 30 minutes later a suspect was detained over in Woodland Hills area by citizens. It is being investigated as a crime,’ Dinsel said.
The officer was asked directly if he believed the fire was set intentionally, and he said: ‘At this time, that’s what we believe. Yes.’
Sources said that a resident called 911 to report a male attempting to set a fire at the 21700 block of Ybarra road at around 4.30pm, per DailyMail.
The suspect was arrested and taken to Topanga station. LAPD Drake Madison cautioned: ‘We cannot confirm any connection to any fire at this time.’
The suspect is a homeless man in his 30s, per the NY Post.
Pictures show the moment he was taken into custody by officers, after locals performed a citizen’s arrest.
In the images, the man is surrounded by five officers, wearing a black t-shirt with his hands fastened behind his back. He has short, dark hair and stubble.