Suspected Arsonist Arrested as LA Fires Engulf City, ‘Happy Days’ Star Henry Winkler Floats Stunning Theory
In a devastating turn of events affecting Los Angeles’ most exclusive neighborhoods, police have arrested a suspect in connection with the Kenneth Fire, one of three massive blazes currently ravaging Southern California.
The fires have claimed 10 lives and destroyed over 10,000 structures, including homes of several Hollywood celebrities, as exhausted firefighters battle to contain the rapidly spreading infernos.
The crisis has prompted several Hollywood figures to speak out.
Happy Days star Henry Winkler expressed outrage on social media, writing, “THERE IS an ARSONIST here in LA. May you be beaten you unrecognizable!!! The pain you have caused!!!”
Other celebrities, including singer Chris Brown and TV personality Elizabeth Chambers, shared similar suspicions about the fires’ origins.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that a homeless man in his 30s was taken into custody Thursday following reports of attempted arson in the West Hills area.
LAPD Senior Lead Officer Charles Dinsel told NewsNation that the incident is being investigated as a crime, with the suspect apprehended by citizens in Woodland Hills shortly after the fire’s inception.
“At this time, that’s what we believe,” Dinsel responded when asked if the fire was intentionally set, Daily Mail outlined.
The investigation centers around the Victory Trailhead area, which authorities have cordoned off as a crime scene.
LAPD Drake Madison issued a cautionary statement, noting they “cannot confirm any connection to any fire at this time,” however.
Sources revealed to Daily Mail that the initial 911 call came from a resident reporting a male attempting to start a fire at the 21700 block of Ybarra road in the early afternoon.
The suspect was subsequently transported to Topanga station for processing, though officials state there is no clear motive for the alleged arson.
Daily Mail reported that the Kenneth Fire has already consumed 1,000 acres, threatening the exclusive communities of Calabasas and Hidden Hills, home to numerous celebrities including Kourtney Kardashian and Will Smith.
The blaze expanded dramatically within hours, growing from 50 acres at 3:45 pm to 791 acres by 4:45 p.m., and reaching 1,000 acres by 11.
Daily Mail noted that Senator Adam Schiff delivered a stark warning to residents facing evacuation orders: “If you get an evacuation order, get the hell out. You may think you can outrun a fire, you cannot outrun these fires. If you stay, you’re going to die in them.”
Currently, approximately 900 exhausted first responders have been redirected from other priority fires to combat the Kenneth Fire.
The situation remains dire across Los Angeles County, with 180,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders and another 200,000 on alert.
Adding to the chaos, Daily Mail shared that an evacuation order alert intended only for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills was mistakenly sent countywide, causing panic among the county’s 9 million residents.
High-profile casualties of the fires include homes belonging to Paris Hilton, Denise Crosby, and Milo Ventimiglia, whose properties have been reduced to ash.
Daily Mail noted that the road out of Calabasas has become gridlocked with bumper-to-bumper traffic as residents heed evacuation warnings, carrying essential documents and possessions they managed to salvage.
Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County expressed grave concerns about the rising death toll: “Right now, frankly, we don’t know yet. I think the death toll will rise. I hope I’m wrong.”
Cal Fire spokesman David Acuna provided a sobering assessment of the situation: “There really is no fire season, it’s a fire year. I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I’ve never seen it this bad.”
Pasadena fire chief Chad Augustin echoed these sentiments, stating, “The level of devastation is staggering.”
The three major fires – Palisades, Kenneth, and Eaton – continue to pose significant threats.
The outlet further reported that the Palisades Fire has grown to 19,978 acres with only 6 percent containment, while the Eaton Fire has consumed 13,690 acres.
The Kenneth Fire remains completely uncontained, with firefighters dropping water bombs from aircraft in desperate attempts to control the blaze, their efforts hampered by strong Santa Ana winds.
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