An arson suspect was arrested Thursday night near the Kenneth Fire area as fire crews continue battling flames burning near homes in Calabasas and West Hills.
At around 4:30 p.m., Los Angeles police responded to reports of a man attempting to light a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills.
Residents who spotted the suspect held him down until officers arrived. Photos shared on the Citizen app show officers surrounding a home where the man was handcuffed.
“We were sitting in the backyard and suddenly, we hear a car come to a screeching halt and the guy is running out saying, ‘Stop! Drop what you’re holding! Neighbors, he’s trying to start a fire! Call 911!’” recalled Renata Grinshpun, who witnessed the incident.
Grinshpun said the commotion roused neighbors from their homes who cornered the suspect and held him down. She said the man had what appeared to be a large “propane tank or a flamethrower” and a neighbor saw him trying to light an object on fire behind a vehicle.
“We really banded together as a group,” Grinshpun said. “A few gentlemen surrounded him and got him on his knees. They got some zip ties, a rope and we were able to do a citizens’ arrest.”
Authorities have not confirmed whether the man was responsible or had any connection with the current wildfires. His identity was not released.
“What we know right now is that the incident occurred here and about 20-30 minutes later, a suspect was detained by citizens,” said Sean Dinse, from LAPD’s Topanga Division.
When asked whether the fire was a possible case of arson, Dinse said, “At this time, that’s what we believe. It’s being investigated as a crime.”
The Kenneth Fire was first reported around 2:30 p.m. in an area of dry brush in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space just north of the 101 Freeway. By 9 p.m., the fire grew to 1,000 acres with 35% containment.
Sky5 footage showed helicopters dropping flame retardant around the fire’s perimeter and fixed-wing aircraft dumping water to protect homes.
An arson investigation is underway and no further details on the suspect were released.
Crews across Southern California are working to contain several devastating wildfires as the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and Malibu and the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena continue growing.
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