By Phoebe Tonks, Mirror
As devastating wildfires continue to crop Los Angeles, an individual has been arrested in connection with the Kenneth Fire in West Hollywood Hills, which is under investigation for arson
One person has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the Kenneth Fire in the West Hollywood Hills.
One person has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting fires amid the ongoing wildfire crisis (
The Los Angeles Police Department were called at around 4:30 pm on Thursday after receiving calls about a man allegedly attempting to ignite a blaze in Woodland Hills’ 21700 block of Ybarra Road, as reported by KTLA.
Quick-thinking locals helped the police to capture the individual. While the identity of the individual hasn’t been disclosed their potential link to other fires in Los Angeles has yet to be clarified, the LAPD has stated that the Kenneth Fire is under investigation as deliberate arson.
An LA Fire Department official had initially dismissed the claims that the fires had been started intentionally when the suspicion was raised by several high profile stars including Happy Days actor Henry Winkler, singer Chris Brown and TV star Elizabeth Chambers. They said: “There’s no way to know at this moment exactly where and how the series of fires started, but an investigation is underway.”
However, that now appears to have changed, following the arrest of one suspect in connection with the situation.
In this aerial view taken from a helicopter, an air tanker prepares to drop fire retardant on the Kenneth fire in the Calabasas area of Los Angeles county,
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman told NewsNation: “Justice will be swift. It will be firm, and the maximum punishment will be sought.” LAPD senior lead officer Charles Dinsel also commented on the arrest, adding that the suspect in now in custody on suspicion of intentionally causing the blaze.. He said. ‘It is being investigated as a crime.”
When asked if he believed the fire had been started intentionally, he responded: “At this time, that’s what we believe. Yes.”
The suspect was arrested and taken to Topanga station, as three intense fires continue to burn out of control in the wider Los Angeles area.
The rapidly moving Kenneth blaze has already stretched to 960 acres since first igniting, and now threatens the Malibu Canyon area north of the 101 Freeway near Calabasas. This luxe neighbourhood is the home of some of LA’s most iconic names, including Kourtney Kardashian and Will Smith. Kim and Khloe Kardashian meanwhile live in nearby Hidden Hills.
Traffic backs up as residents evacuate ahead of the Kenneth Fire on January 09, 2025
The Kenneth Fire started at approximately 2pm Thursday in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space, swiftly engulfing more than 600 acres by 6pm, data from CALFire showed. Initially, the fire stood at 50 acres by 3:45pm, but had rapidly grown to 791 acres by 4.45pm, before hitting 960 acres by 6pm.
In light of the spreading fire, mandatory evacuation orders were issued by the state as firefighters fought to tackle the fire with water bombs dropped from the skies, however the Santa Ana winds have continued to make bringing the fire under control extremely challenging.
As people fled their homes as instructed, the road out of Calabasas quickly became gridlocked on Thursday evening, with bumper to bumper traffic causing delays and concern among those fleeing their homes.
In anticipation of more fires and worsening conditions, residents across southern California have been warned to gather important documents and possessions in anticipation of further evacuations which could happen at very short notice.
As of Thursday evening the death toll had already risen to 7, with more than 10,000 structures now reportedly decimated in the flames.
