A man suspected of attempting to start fires in Woodland Hills, California, was confronted by quick-thinking residents on Thursday afternoon, preventing further destruction amidst a region already ravaged by wildfires.
Arrest Details
Los Angeles police responded to reports of a man using a blowtorch to ignite multiple Christmas trees and piles of garbage near Arcos Drive and Galendo Street around 4:30 p.m. local time. This incident occurred near the site of the newly ignited Kenneth Fire, which began spreading through the San Fernando Valley and into West Hills the same afternoon.
The Kenneth Fire, the latest in a series of Southern California blazes, has rapidly expanded to cover 960 acres, threatening homes in the Calabasas area.
Residents who spotted the suspect acted decisively. One neighbor, Renata Grinshpun, described the chaotic but coordinated effort to KTLA:
“We were sitting in the backyard, and suddenly we hear a car screech to a halt. A man jumps out yelling, ‘Stop! Drop what you’re holding! Neighbors, he’s trying to start a fire! Call 911!’”
Grinshpun recounted how several neighbors tackled the man, restraining him with zip ties and rope until authorities arrived.
“We really banded together as a group,” she said. “A few