Suspected arsonist arrested in connection with new LA blaze

10 January, 2025

LA Wildfires

An arrest has been made in relation to the ongoing LA fires, with the person suspected of starting the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills area of the city.

Police were captured on video making the arrest, with citizens in the West Valley neighbourhood said to have helped detain the person. Five fires are still burning in Los Angeles, with 10 lives so far having been claimed by what is becoming the most destructive blaze in the city’s history.

Earlier, Happy Days and Barry actor Henry Winkler alleged that arson was behind the fires, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to make his claims. “THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA . May you be beaten you unrecognizable !!! The pain you have caused !!!” he wrote on the platform.

At the time, the LA Fire Department responded to the post, telling TMZ “there’s no way to know at this moment exactly where and how the series of fires started, but an investigation is underway”. Since then, one arrest has been made, with the Los Angeles Police Department telling TV channel News Nation that they believe that someone intentionally started the Kenneth Fire. So far, there is no suspicion of any of the other fires having been the result of arson.

The fires have caused mass devastation in Los Angeles, with emergency services continuing to battle the five affected areas. More than 9,000 homes and structures are reported to have been damaged or destroyed.

Oscar winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins’ home in the Pacific Palisades area of the city has burned down, while comedian Billy Crystal and TV personality Paris Hilton have also published messages confirming their home are lost. Actor James Woods broke down in tears talking about his experiences with the fire, and Star Wars legend Mark Hamill posted about his evacuation.

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