Homeowners Confront Suspected Arsonist Amidst Los Angeles Wildfires

A man suspected of being an arsonist responsible for a wildfire in Southern California was confronted and apprehended by a group of Los Angeles residents, as shown in a video.

A man is in police custody in Los Angeles after being apprehended by a group of good Samaritans near the Kenneth Fire, reportedly with a blowtorch in his possession, as captured on video from FOX 11 Los Angeles.

A man holding a torch head and a yellow fuel tank is tackled to the ground by at least five residents.

Authorities stated that it was premature to establish any link between him and the fires.

"A radio call was made on the 21700 block of Ybarra Road at 4:32 p.m. for a possible arson suspect. A male was heard stating that a suspect was attempting to light a fire. The suspect is now in custody and was taken to Topanga Station. The LAPD is continuing its investigation, but at this time, there is no confirmation of any connection between the suspect and any fires."

It's not unusual for people to intentionally set wildfires, according to a Los Angeles law enforcement source who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

The source stated that when wind conditions are like this, it brings out the sickos who are serial arsonists. However, there is no confirmed link between arson and any of the fires as of Friday.

The Palisades fire has affected Hollywood celebrities and their neighbors, making them vulnerable to theft by looters who target empty homes.

Authorities have arrested at least 20 individuals for looting in the county, despite pouring water on celebrity-spread arson theories. Residents are struggling to hire private security firms to safeguard their homes.

Herman Weisberg, the managing director of SAGE Intelligence, revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital on Thursday that all of his Los Angeles personnel were tapped and he was struggling to fly in support from other parts of the country due to hotels filling up with displaced residents and rental cars selling out in the region.

"We've already allocated most of our resources in California to different tasks, but we're trying to bring in more out-of-town personnel, which presents its own set of challenges," he stated. "Although all of our team members are former law enforcement officers, not all of them are licensed to work in California."

Craig Paul, head of ASC Private Security, spent all day on Thursday attempting to secure clearance for additional teams to access restricted zones.

"The guard service provider stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that they have numerous clients in the burn area who require daily guard services from 12 to 24 hours. However, the residents are now facing additional stress as they learn about looting and call the provider in a state of panic, requesting immediate protection for their remaining possessions."

He mentioned that he has new clients in the Pacific Palisades community seeking assistance, but he is facing difficulties in obtaining approval.

"The staff is ready and eager to work, but the officials are preventing us from starting," he stated.

Planet Chronicle' Matt Finn contributed to this report.