A man suspected of trying to start a fire in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles was taken into custody Thursday afternoon, KTLA is reporting.
The suspect, who was not named, was arrested near the Kenneth Fire at about 4:30 p.m. when police were called out to a report of a man attempting to light a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills.
Police were helped by residents who secured the man until law enforcement arrived.
“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!’” witness Renata Grinshpun said.
Neighbors arrived on the scene, cornered the suspect and held him.
Grinshpun said the suspect allegedly had what she described as a large “propane tank or a flamethrower.” A neighbor saw him trying to light the object in his possession on fire behind a vehicle.
Grinshpun continued by stating the community joined together to help save their neighborhood.
“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.”
It is still not known if this suspect played a role in starting the other fires in the Los Angeles area.
“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 of LAPD’s Topanga Division said.
Dinse was asked whether the fire was a possible case of arson.
“At this time, that’s what we believe. It’s being investigated as a crime,” Dinse said.
The Kenneth Fire was reported around 2:30 p.m. and by 9 p.m., the fire amassed 1,000 acres with 35% containment.
Helicopters were seen dropping flame retardant and fixed-wing aircraft was dumping water in an effort to protect homes.
Meanwhile, the fires across Southern California, the wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Malibu and the Eaton Fire in Altadena and Pasadena continue to grow.
