A homeless man zip-tied by concerned citizens after he was seen lighting fires on a Los Angeles street with a torch has yet to be charged with arson, Los Angeles cops said Friday — while stressing they are still investigating the disturbing incident.
The man was cornered and tied up by residents of Woodland Hills, near the Kenneth Fire, on Thursday afternoon after they allegedly saw him riding his bike around and lighting old Christmas trees and debris on fire with what one resident described as a “flamethrower.”
Police soon arrived and took the man — who has still not been identified — into custody.
One person has been taken into custody in connection to the Kenneth Fire, which broke out Thursday in West Hills, Calif., according to reports. APHowever, there was not enough evidence to charge him with arson, LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi told reporters on Friday.
A male arson suspect was arrested in Woodland Hills as the nearby Kenneth Fire ignited in the Calabasas area on Jan. 9, 2025. Citizen“Once we learned this suspect was a possible arson suspect” major crimes divisions from LAPD and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the man, Choi said.
“After the interview and additional investigative steps looking at some additional evidence that was present they made the determination that there was not enough probable cause to arrest this person on arson or suspicion of arson.”
A firefighter sets a backburn in front of the advancing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles. APHe was arrested on a felony probation violation and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
“I’d like to thank those community members that were involved in helping bring this person to our attention,” Choi said.
Officials have not yet determined the cause for any of the wildfires that have scorched more than 35,000 acres in and around Los Angeles, destroying thousands of structures and killing at least 10 people.
The Los Angeles Fire Department initially issued mandatory evacuation orders for the area known as Hidden Hills, but downgraded that to mere warnings, according to the outlet. APSoon after the alleged firebug was taken into custody, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it was investigating the Kenneth Fire as likely arson.
The Kenneth Fire sparked Thursday and has since burned 1,000 acres. The blaze was 35% contained Friday afternoon.
The fire is one of five burning in Los Angeles county, with the largest — the Palisades Fire — burning more than 20,000 acres. In all, more than 35,000 acres, or double the size of Manhattan, have burned in Southern California this week.
