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As fire crews battle the overwhelming blaze in Los Angeles, the police are investigating the possibility of the Kenneth Fire near the Hidden Hills area being a suspected arson incident.
Knewz.com has learned that law enforcement authorities arrested a suspected arsonist believed to be behind this particular fire, which has already spread across 1,000 acres with 35% containment.
The Kenneth Fire near the Hidden Hills area in Los Angeles was first reported at around 2:30 p.m. local time, "burning in an area of dry brush in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space, north of the 101 Freeway," according to reports.
Around two hours later, Los Angeles Police responded to the reports of a man allegedly carrying a large “propane tank or a flamethrower” trying to light a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills.
Renata Grinshpun, a resident who witnessed the arrest of the suspected arsonist, said in a statement to the press:
"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!’"
It has been reported that the residents of the Woodland Hills neighborhood who spotted the arson suspect cornered the man and detained him for the police.
"We [residents of the neighborhood] really banded together as a group... 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," Grinshpun recounted.
Another resident who witnessed the arrest said that the arson suspect was allegedly brandishing a flamethrower when he was apprehended.
"He was very, like, 'I can't stop. I can't stop. I'm not putting this down. I'm doing this,'" the witness said.
"And [he was] very focused on moving forward with the blow torch. And we're like, 'We can't be doing that right now,'" he added.
As of now, authorities have not confirmed whether the arrested arson suspect can be linked to any of the wildfires raging across Los Angeles.
Sean Dinse of the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Division said that the police currently believe the Kenneth Fire is a possible case of arson and is investigated as a crime.
"What we know right now is that the incident occurred here and about 20-30 minutes later, a suspect was detained by citizens," Dinse told reporters.
It has been reported that around 9 p.m. local time, the Kenneth Fire had spread across 1,000 acres with 35% containment.
Los Angeles is currently witnessing raging wildfires, especially in the Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst regions, which have left entire neighborhoods up in flames, causing unprecedented destruction in several areas.
The widespread fires have claimed two fatalities already, with over 1,000 homes and businesses having burned down.
It has been reported that extreme Santa Ana winds – defined as strong, extremely dry downslope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California and the Baja California region – have been fueling the blaze, with 80 mph gusts spreading the fires in the Palisades, Altadena, and Pasadena areas.
Reports have further mentioned that these Santa Ana winds are "the worst in over a decade," with wind speeds reaching 99 mph in Altadena and surrounding areas.
According to officials, the raging wildfires spread to the "rich and highly populated" neighborhoods of Los Angeles, including the homes of Hollywood celebrities.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said that over 1,400 firefighters had been deployed to deal with the blazing inferno that has engulfed Los Angeles, "with assistance from both nearby and out-of-state departments and further asks out to anyone with firefighting experience," according to reports.