Los Angeles police have arrested four people on arson charges for allegedly trying to ignite new fires as firefighters continue to fight the Palisades and Eaton blazes that have killed a combined 25 people so far.
The four were arrested in separate arson incidents that occurred outside the wildfire zones, police officials announced Tuesday as the death toll rose to 25, according to an update from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
The dueling wildfires have decimated the county and continue to push on, with more Santa Ana winds expected to fuel the flames later this week. Dozens of people are still missing and yet the four suspects allegedly tried to create even more chaos amid the tragedy and devastation.
One of the alleged arsonists, Jose Gerardo Escobar, was charged with three different arson counts and could face nine years in prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He allegedly intentionally set a fire on Friday in Azusa, Calif., which is not in an active wildfire zone but is just east of the Eaton Fire.
Another suspect allegedly used a barbecue lighter to spark fires in North Hollywood on Sunday night, Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at a press conference. Officers arrested the alleged arsonist for an outstanding felony warrant for arson after community members reported the fires and they were quickly booked into the Van Nuys jail.
A third arrest was made on Monday afternoon, also in Van Nuys, Calif. A person had reportedly lit a nearby brush on fire, McDonnell said. By the time officers arrived on the scene, Los Angeles firefighters were already stamping out the flames. The suspect was booked in the Van Nuys jail as well.
The fourth person was arrested in the West LA area after a witness reported seeing them light a trash can on fire. Responding officers were pointed in the direction of the suspect by community members at the scene. The suspect was quickly taken into custody without incident and booked for arson, McDonnell said at a news conference.
Surveillance footage from local businesses captured the suspect setting fires around West LA, McDonnell said. He encouraged everyone with access to their security cameras to check them diligently.
“Whether from ring cameras, home security systems, or any other recording devices, even seemingly small details can make a big difference in our ongoing investigations,” he said.
The four arrests come after a homeless man, a Mexican national who entered the US illegally, was tackled by brave onlookers after they saw him using a “flamethrower” to start new fires in Woodland Hills.
The LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have issued a stringent curfew and even called in the National Guard to help stupor the ongoing looting and theft across the county. They’ve also increased patrols and placed approximately 750 officers in the areas affected by the fires.
So far, 14 arrests have been made for illicit activities ranging from curfew violations to straight-up robberies. Many of the alleged looters came locked and loaded, complete with tools to break into the thousands of empty homes.
