A homeless man has been arrested in connection with the Kenneth Fire, which erupted Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles’ West Hills. The fast-moving blaze has scorched more than 800 acres, prompting authorities to launch an arson investigation as the fire continues to threaten nearby neighborhoods.
NEW: Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson blast California Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to prepare Los Angeles for the devastating wildfires.
"They spent $24 billion last year on the homeless, and what did they spend on preventing these wildfires?"
"In 2019, Newsom said he would take… pic.twitter.com/xJaQeDVMIA
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) January 9, 2025
The fire ignited around 2:30 p.m. near Victory Trailhead. Not long after, alert Woodland Hills residents noticed a man attempting to start additional fires using what appeared to be a blowtorch. Witnesses reported that the man was carrying a propane tank while riding a bicycle. Quick-thinking locals surrounded the suspect and restrained him until police arrived on the scene.
Homeless man 'with blowtorch' in LA is tackled and zip-tied by furious locals as cops confirm latest wildfire is ARSON
“Locals claim the man was riding a bicycle around the Woodland Hills neighborhood on Thursday afternoon and carrying a large 'propane tank or a flamethrower'.”… pic.twitter.com/U0IPLFVFeK
— ❣️Anne❣️ (@USA_Anne711) January 10, 2025
Hi, firefighter here, almost all of California’s wildfires are started by schizophrenic homeless firebugs. The reason California has so many fires is because we have so many schizophrenic homeless people. The brush is not spontaneously combusting in the heat. Hope this helps! https://t.co/ZvVrGgUYV9
— Scumdog (@Slumdog_Classic) January 8, 2025
Renata Grinshpun, a resident of the area, explained how the community acted swiftly to stop the man. “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,” she said. One witness stated the suspect appeared determined, reportedly saying, “I can’t stop. I’m not putting this down. I’m doing this.”
This not Hollywood movie. It's someone else's reality at the moment in Los Angeles California. Over 1 million people will be homeless due to this Fire outbreaks. #wildfires #LosAngelesWildfires #CaliforniaWildfires pic.twitter.com/sjJqB6A6vI
— Anambra Sunshine☀️❤💞💝 (@nellydaniel13) January 10, 2025
🚨 BREAKING: AN ARSONIST ARRESTED, BUT THE REAL CRIMINALS ARE STILL IN OFFICE 🚨
The arrest of an alleged arsonist in the California wildfire is a small victory, but let's not miss the forest for the trees. The real culprits behind this disaster are the Democrat leaders whose…
— Defiant America (@AmericaDefiant) January 10, 2025
The suspect was taken into custody on Ybarra Road and transported to the LAPD Topanga Station. Authorities have not yet confirmed formal charges, but the investigation remains ongoing. The area surrounding Victory Trailhead is now being treated as a crime scene as officials search for more details.
BREAKING OVERNIGHT
Los Angeles Police arrest alleged arsonist near California wildfires.
This is a developing story. pic.twitter.com/r3M0tYl8R6
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) January 10, 2025
Citizens arrest arson suspect holding blowtorch after another LA wildfire starts – Washington Examiner https://t.co/yDMSSKH5oy
— Melanie (@MellieMAGA) January 10, 2025
The Kenneth Fire is one of five massive wildfires wreaking havoc across Los Angeles County. Together, these fires have burned nearly 30,000 acres and forced over 130,000 residents to evacuate. The Palisades Fire has been the most destructive, destroying more than 5,000 homes and covering almost 20,000 acres.
Arson suspect arrested by LAPD after neighbors saw him setting a bush on fire during massive California wildfires pic.twitter.com/AgjQtjfujQ
— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) January 10, 2025
BREAKING: California is burning to the ground and Gavin Newsom’s homeless issue has just become infinitely worse but officials confirm that the smelt are doing just fine.#californiawildfire #wildfires #GavinNewsom
— Dawn StClair (@stclair_dawn) January 9, 2025
The situation has been made worse by reports of looting in evacuated areas. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that at least 20 people have been arrested for looting homes damaged by the fires.
Yesterday, as wildfires raged in Los Angeles, Savanah Hernandez @sav_says_ (600,000 followers) and I followed a tip from a high-level San Diego Fire Department official about a homeless encampment known to be a public safety threat caused by reoccurring homeless FIRES.… pic.twitter.com/Lyv0HECJuD
— Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) January 8, 2025
The Homeless-Industrial Complex – @LAcoSheriff_33 joins @MattGaetz to break down how California’s homelessness crisis is fueled by cash and exacerbating the LA wildfires.
Click here for full episodes: https://t.co/Bgm0eOgh9K#OAN #Breaking #Latest #Exclusive pic.twitter.com/tmpNrwxdcO
— One America News (@OANN) January 10, 2025
As firefighters battle to contain the spreading flames, officials continue working to uncover the causes behind the fires and whether other suspects may be involved.
Homeless are starting fires in California.
There are more homeless in CA than any other state.
Gavin Newsom has failed to properly address this crisis.
How many wildfires have they start or made worse by homeless?pic.twitter.com/dZAM7lF1MC
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 8, 2025
More burned homeless camps in the greenbelt of Austin. @KirkPWatson and all city leadership, California wildfires need to be a lesson.
Please put a stop to this before it happens here. Its in your power. You have the ordinances and law to allow you to stop this. pic.twitter.com/NJjSYUh5ZL
— DASH (@DocumentingATX) January 8, 2025
Good morning everyone,37F cloudy, expected today in FSJ
Let’s begin the day with a suspected Arsonist has been arrested in California ! So the Climate Change Bedwetters can stfu now.
Have a great day, everyone 🌞🇨🇦🇺🇸https://t.co/a4sjOmPF0p
— Rob Logan (@Northerngold01) January 10, 2025
