Home / Disasters and Accidents / Arsonist Detained After Brush Fire Erupts in Runyon Canyon
Arsonist Detained After Brush Fire Erupts in Runyon Canyon
15 Jul
Summary
- Brush fire in Runyon Canyon quickly extinguished by firefighters
- Bystanders detained suspected arsonist, who admitted to starting the fire
- Incident comes months after larger Sunset Fire in the same area
On Sunday, firefighters in Los Angeles were called to Runyon Canyon Park to battle a brush fire that had started with a single palm tree and spread to about a quarter-acre. The blaze, which occurred at 11:47 a.m., was quickly brought under control by 53 firefighters and extinguished by 12:25 p.m.
Interestingly, the fire appears to have been intentionally set, as authorities took an arson suspect into custody at the scene. Video footage shows bystanders detaining a man who admitted to starting the fire, before police arrived to place him under arrest.
This incident is particularly noteworthy as it comes just months after the much larger Sunset Fire, which charred around 43 acres in the same general vicinity of Runyon Canyon back in January. That previous blaze destroyed several homes and prompted evacuations before firefighters were able to gain control.
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While the latest fire was swiftly contained, the arrest of a suspected arsonist is sure to raise concerns among local residents about the safety and security of the popular Runyon Canyon Park.
