Authorities have arrested a man suspected of starting the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles, which broke out on Thursday afternoon (January 9).
The suspect, described as a homeless man in his 30s, was discovered by locals around 4:30 p.m. local time. Residents in the Woodland Hills area detained the man, who was later arrested by police in connection with the Kenneth fire.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed that the suspect is under investigation for arson.
h/t from a friend. pic.twitter.com/makUyJ4VWH
— David Hansen (@investDRH) January 10, 2025
The arrests come as the death toll from the Los Angeles wildfires rises to 10, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna compared the damage caused by the fire to an “atomic bomb.”
“It looks like an atomic bomb was dropped on these areas,” he told a news conference.
He also warned that the death toll was expected to rise. “I don’t expect good news,” he warned. “We’re not expecting these numbers.”
The Kenneth Fire quickly spread to more than 960 acres, threatening the affluent suburbs of Calabasas and Hidden Hills. It is one of five active wildfires currently burning in the Los Angeles area.
Los Angeles has declared a state of emergency in response to the crisis.
On Thursday (January 9), President Biden announced that the federal government will cover 100% of recovery costs for the next 180 days, including debris and hazardous material removal, temporary shelter, and first responder wages.
“I’m telling governors, I’m telling local officials, do whatever it takes to do what they need to do to get the fires under control,” Biden said.
Multiple fires, including the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and Kenneth Fire, have burned more than 30,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures and forced the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents.
