Suspect Arrested in Connection to Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles’ West Hills

CALIFORNIA – A suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the Kenneth Fire, which broke out Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles’ West Hills, sparking an extensive investigation by the LAPD. The fire, which began around 2:30 p.m., has quickly spread across over 800 acres and continues to threaten nearby areas in Ventura County.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire, but it is being treated as a criminal act. The suspect, a homeless man in his 30s, was detained by residents in the Woodland Hills area about 30 minutes after the fire ignited. The LAPD has launched an arson investigation at the Victory Trailhead, where the fire began, and the area is being treated as a crime scene.

The Los Angeles Fire Department initially issued mandatory evacuation orders for the Hidden Hills area, but these were later downgraded to warnings. Firefighters have managed to gain control over the blaze, but the situation remains critical as wildfires continue to ravage Southern California.

The Kenneth Fire is part of a series of fires that have broken out in the region, including the massive Palisades Fire, which has destroyed thousands of homes and spread across nearly 20,000 acres. The fires, which have claimed at least seven lives, continue to devastate parts of Los Angeles, with more than 130,000 residents under evacuation orders. Authorities are investigating the causes of the fires, some of which remain uncontained.

NEW: @FOXLA has exclusively obtained video of a man carrying a blow torch in Woodland Hills, CA Thursday not far from the Kenneth Fire. LAPD says the man is in custody but “can’t confirm any connection to any fire by this suspect”. #CaliforniaWildfires #KennethFire pic.twitter.com/ULwxtnfsdj

— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) January 10, 2025