Dramatic video shows local heroes foil firestarter in LA as string of deadly blazes continue to terrorize California
Another suspected fire starter from Los Angeles was stopped by citizens on Saturday after lighting a bush in the Los Feliz neighbourhood, DailyMail.com can reveal.
A video filmed by author Paul Haddad showed local residents confronting the man in a plaid shirt who lit a pile of dead leaves and twigs in a built-up area next to the LA River in the eastern part of the city.
It comes amid a series of deliberate arson attacks and suspected arson arrests in the past week.
The city is on the edge after devastating forest fires, with persistent high winds and drought causing at least 24 deaths and putting neighborhoods at high risk of any fires turning into unstoppable infernos.
“I was walking along the LA River around 10 a.m. when I came across a bunch of smoke,” Haddad told DailyMail.com.
‘There was a man who buried a bunch of leaves and twigs and lit a fire on the barricades along the bank.
‘I confronted him. He seemed checked out. He didn’t seem to realize the seriousness of the situation.
“He was building a campfire, but he didn’t look homeless. It was like he was making a cup of coffee, it was very blasé.
Locals in the Los Feliz neighborhood were confronted by a man who tried to use a pile of dead leaves and twigs to start a fire along the Los Angeles River.
A firefighter sprays water on a burning home in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California on Wednesday, January 8
Paul Haddad, who filmed the incident, said another local resident confronted the man in the plaid shirt and used a water bottle to douse the flames
Hadded continued, “I immediately called 911. They transferred me to LAFD, but they had no interest in coming out. They told me, “We’re out of resources, we can’t get there.”‘
Haddad said another local resident also noticed the fire and confronted the fire starter, using a water bottle to douse the flames while Haddad filmed.
‘The man said he was cold. We said to him: “but you are wearing a jacket”. He just seemed inclined to start a fire,” the author said.
‘There really seemed to be something mentally wrong with this man. He was almost in a trance when he made it.’
DailyMail.com also obtained video of a fire truck extinguishing another fire Monday morning in Santa Monica, near the famed Brentwood enclave where the Palisades Fire is raging in the canyons.
A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, said firefighters on the scene suspected the fire was caused by arson, although they were able to respond quickly and extinguish the blaze.
And this incident is just one of many arsonists who have deliberately attempted to set fires throughout Los Angeles – including the now-extinguished Kenneth fire that is under investigation.
Bystanders, including Haddad, said the man looked as if he was in a trance before he was restrained
Officials took Mexican national Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva into custody but said they had no probable cause to hold him on arson charges and instead arrested him on a probation violation.
A fire truck in Irwindale where firefighters witnessed Ruben Montes, 29, ‘actively lighting fires’ in the area
Ruben Montes, 29, was arrested Sunday on arson charges in Irwindale, California, about 16 miles from Altadena, where the deadly Eaton Fire continues to rage.
Firefighters were responding to a small bushfire in Irwindale when they witnessed Montes breaking out in the area, police confirmed.
He was arrested by officers at the scene and eventually arrested for arson. Details about the incident are limited and police have not revealed where Montes was booked.
Police also did not reveal whether Montes was responsible for starting the forest fire or whether any of the fires he allegedly started caused damage. It’s also unclear if he has any ties to the other fires ravaging LA.
His arrest comes just days after an illegal immigrant was arrested for allegedly setting a fire in Calabasas, west of Beverly Hills, on Friday.
Mexican national Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva was captured on video walking with a yellow blowtorch before being confronted by residents.
They held his arms behind his back and pushed him to the ground as they waited for police to arrive on the scene near the Kenneth Fire – which has since been brought under control.
A witness later said the suspect was “very focused on moving the gas burner.” The suspect told FOX 11: ‘I can’t stop. I can’t stop. I’m not putting this down. I’m doing this.’
A homeless arson suspect was taken into custody near the scene of one of three Los Angeles wildfires
Renata Grinshpun also recalled how the community “really worked together as a group.” She told KTLA, “A few gentlemen surrounded him and put him on his knees. They got some zip ties and some rope and we were able to make a citizen’s arrest.”
As an officer approached, the three men who intervened were seen pointing the suspect at the police officer, who then took the suspect into custody.
Police officers said at the time that the suspect was taken to the Topanga Police Station after being held for “approximately 20 to 30 minutes.”
The catastrophic Los Angeles fires have killed 24 people and burned more than 100,000 acres. Firefighters are currently working to contain three active fires in the Los Angeles area and officials are warning that Tuesday’s forecast wind gusts of 70 mph could cause “explosive fire growth.”
The flames have forced some 150,000 people to evacuate and reduced entire neighborhoods to smoldering ruins, leveling the homes of the rich, famous and ordinary people alike and creating an apocalyptic landscape.
The Palisades fire has been burning for six straight days and is only 13 percent contained, while more than 23,713 acres have burned.
The Eaton and Hurst fires reached the five-day mark and burned a total of 14,916 hectares – but the Hurst fire is 95 percent contained, while the Eaton fire is at 33 percent.