Police have detained a suspect allegedly responsible for starting one of the fires raging in Los Angeles.

The suspect is a homeless man in his 30s, according to Fox LA’s Elex Michaelson.

The suspect was initially detained “by citizens” in the Woodland Hills neighborhood not long after the Kenneth fire started on Thursday, Los Angeles Police Department officer Charles Dinsel told NewsNation’s Brian Entin.

Newsweek has contacted the LAPD for further comment via email.

A Cal Fire helicopter flies near plumes of smoke from the Kenneth fire in West Hills, California, on January 9, 2025. An arson investigation is under way in connection with the fire. A Cal Fire helicopter flies near plumes of smoke from the Kenneth fire in West Hills, California, on January 9, 2025. An arson investigation is under way in connection with the fire. David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images

The Context

The Kenneth fire started in the San Fernando Valley on Thursday afternoon and quickly burned through more than 1,000 acres.

Firefighters are also continuing to battle multiple other large wildfires in the Los Angeles area fueled by dry conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds.

The fires have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures, killed at least 10 people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes.

What To Know

The LAPD has launched an arson investigation at Victory Trailhead, where the Kenneth fire began, according to Entin.

“What we know right now is that the incident occurred, started here and about 20 minutes, 30 minutes later, a suspect was detained over in Woodland Hills area by citizens,” Dinsel said.

Asked if the Kenneth fire was intentionally set, Dinsel said: “At this time, that’s what we believe.”

He said how and why the fire started was not yet clear, but he confirmed that the area has been designated a crime scene.

The suspect’s identity has not been released, and an LAPD official earlier told Newsweek that the department is “continuing our investigation and cannot confirm any connection to any fire by this suspect at this time.”

The official said that “a male was heard stating a suspect was attempting to light a fire” at the 21700 block of Ybarra Road in in Woodland Hills in 4:30 p.m. radio call on Thursday.

The official said officers arrived at the scene and took one person into custody.

What People Are Saying

Renata Grinshpun, who witnessed the suspect being detained, told KTLA: “We were sitting in the backyard and suddenly, we hear a car come to a screeching halt and the guy is running out saying, ‘Stop! Drop what you’re holding! Neighbors, he’s trying to start a fire! Call 911!”

The man had what appeared to be a large “propane tank or a flamethrower” and a neighbor saw him trying to light an object on fire behind a vehicle, she said.

She added: “We really banded together as a group. 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.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X on Thursday night: “The #KennethFire is 1,000 acres and now 35 percent contained. The forward rate of spread has been stopped.

“Grateful for the heroic firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties who are actively engaged on the scene, deploying both ground crews and aerial resources.”

What’s Next

The arson investigation remains underway. Police have yet to provide further details about the suspect.