LA fire ‘arsonist’ accused of starting fire in celeb enclave is arrested after being tackled by residents
Share:
A SUSPECTED arsonist has been arrested over fears he started a devastating fire ripping through parts of Los Angeles. The ferocious Kenneth Fire began ripping through LA's West Hills on Thursday afternoon. Authorities are treating the latest blaze as arson and treating the area as a crime scene, NewsNation reports.
![[Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/fire-crews-battle-kenneth-fire-962680434.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
One man - understood to be in his 30s - has been taken into custody. He was detained by residents in the area, police say. Kenneth Fire has already torn through more than 800 acres and continues to rip through Ventura County. Dramatic pictures show helicopters dropping water on the raging inferno in a desperate bid to put out flames.
![[Water is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/water-dropped-helicopter-kenneth-fire-962680332.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It started in the San Fernando Valley just two miles from a school serving as a shelter for fire evacuees shortly after 2.30pm. LAPD Senior Lead Officer Sean Dinse told NewsNation: "About 20 minutes, 30 minutes later a suspect was detained over in the Woodland Hills area by citizens.".
![[Fire crews walk as they battle the blaze, which started on Thursday]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/fire-crews-walk-battle-kenneth-962681390.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
He said it was not clear how and why the fire was started - but it is "being investigated as a crime". By the evening, the blaze had moved into neighboring Ventura County. The LA Fire Department initially issued mandatory evacuation orders for the area known as Hidden Hills, but has since downgraded that to warnings.
It is one of six fires wreaking havoc in LA - with ten people confirmed dead, though the toll is feared to be much higher. More than 180,000 residents have been forced to flee their homes - with a further 200,000 warned they may need to quickly evacuate.
