Californians confront man accused of starting LA fire until police make arrest

A group of Californians recorded a tense moment as they confronted a man accused of setting fire to trees and bushes in Los Angeles, detaining him until police arrived to make an arrest.

The tense scene unfolded Sunday along the Runyon Canyon in Hollywood Hills, where the devastating Sunset Fire began in January. 

“You started that fire? You just came from over there, we just saw you,” a woman is heard telling the man, who was wearing a red tank top shirt. 

“I did, you’re right. And I’m — yeah. You have the warrant for the murder right?” he responded, before turning away. 

Los Angeles arson suspect arrested

The suspect, whose identity is unclear, is seen being arrested on Sunday, July 13, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Instagram/dstylemedia)

The identity of the suspect is unclear. 

“He admitted he did it,” shared witness Davanh Dimarco with Fox11 Los Angeles. “There was no one else coming out of the trees. It seems he was carrying a blowtorch.”

“He claimed, ‘I’m a fire marshal and this is a controlled burn,’” recounted another observer, Scotty Mitchell. “I asked him, ‘Show me your badge.’ Obviously, he didn’t have one and probably not even a fake one.”

Mitchell also described the incident as like “PTSD from January.” 

Los Angeles fire crews put out blaze

Fire crews are seen fighting the blaze that broke out in Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 13. (Instagram/dstylemedia)

Fire crews that showed up on scene kept the blaze to under a half-acre, according to Fox11 Los Angeles. 

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