A gaggle of Los Angeles residents confronted and apprehended a person they consider could also be an arsonist liable for setting one in all a number of wildfires in Southern California, video reveals.
Los Angeles police have a person in custody after a gaggle of fine Samaritans grabbed him close to the Kenneth Fireplace, allegedly carrying a blowtorch, in accordance with video from FOX 11 Los Angeles.
The video reveals a person who seems to be holding a torch head and a yellow gas tank. A minimum of 5 residents encompass him and deal with him to the bottom.
Police mentioned it was too early to verify he was related to any fires.
ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM
A nonetheless picture from residence safety video that seems to point out a Los Angeles man holding a torch head and gas tank earlier than residents tackled him and referred to as police as wildfires rage throughout Southern California. Police mentioned he was taken into custody however couldn’t verify he was related to any fires. (FOX 11 Los Angeles)
“Right now, at 4:32 p.m., a radio name was generated on the 21700 block of Ybarra Highway for a doable arson suspect. A male was heard stating a suspect was ‘attempting to light a fire,'” an LAPD spokesman told Fox News. “The suspect is in custody and was transported to Topanga Station. We are continuing our investigation, and we CANNOT confirm any connection to any fire by this suspect at this time.”
PALISADES FIRE IN LA IGNITES LOOTING FEARS AND PUSHES PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS TO THE BRINK
The arrest comes as a Los Angeles law enforcement source tells Fox News Digital it’s not uncommon to find people have intentionally set wildfires.
“When you have wind conditions like this, it brings out the serial arsonists, who are sickos,” the source said. There is no confirmed connection between arson and any of the fires as of Friday, however.
PALISADES FIRE: HEIDI MONTAG, SPENCER PRATT LOSE HOME; CELEBRITIES FLEE RITZY NEIGHBORHOOD
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Palisades Fire has grown to over 15,000 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate while a second major fire continues to burn near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
The Palisades fire in particular has impacted Hollywood stars and their neighbors – prime targets for looters looking to steal from homes after their owners have evacuated.
While authorities have poured water on some celebrity-spread arson theories, authorities have made at least 20 arrests for looting across the county as residents struggle to hire private security firms to protect their homes.
Herman Weisberg, the managing director of the private security and investigations firm SAGE Intelligence, told Fox News Digital Thursday that all of his Los Angeles personnel were tapped, and he was having trouble flying in support from elsewhere in the country as hotels fill up with displaced residents and rental cars sell out across the region.
“We’ve already pretty much committed all the assets I have in California to various assignments, but we’re trying to mobilize some more out of towners, which has its own issues,” he said. “Everybody that we have is former law enforcement, but not everybody is licensed in the state of California.”
POLICE SHOOT DOWN CELEBRITIES FLOATING ARSON THEORIES
Fire personnel respond to homes destroyed while a helicopter drops water as the Palisades Fire grows in Pacific Palisades, California on Jan. 7, 2025. (DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Craig Paul, who runs ASC Private Security, said he spent all day Thursday trying to get clearance for more of his teams to enter restricted areas.
“We have many clients in the burn area that we provide guard service for every day, from 12 to 24 hours,” he told Fox News Digital. “As if the residents aren’t going by means of hell already, they’re now studying of the looting and calling me in a panic for us to get again up there to guard what they’ve left.”
A house is engulfed in flames in the course of the Eaton fireplace within the Altadena space of Los Angeles County, California on January 8, 2025 (JOSH EDELSON/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He mentioned he additionally has new potential shoppers asking for assist in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, however he’s having hassle getting authorization.
“I have the staff ready and eager to work but the officials won’t allow us,” he mentioned.
Fox Information’ Matt Finn contributed to this report.
