Arson suspect arrested in Palisades Fire sweeping portion of Los Angeles
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LOS ANGELES — A man detained Sunday in connection with the Pacific Palisades brush fire that has scorched roughly 1,325 acres since Friday has been arrested, officials confirmed Monday.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said during a news conference that the unidentified arson suspect is being treated for minor smoke inhalation, but he declined to confirm that the man is a transient, KABC reported.
#PalisadesFire UPDATE.....Fixed wing aircraft has been requested. This is the result of improved weather conditions. Water dropping helicopters will continue to work. @CAL_FIRE@LAFD
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) May 17, 2021
According to the Los Angeles Times, two people were questioned Saturday night about the fire, which has forced the evacuation of about 1,000 residents. One person was released, and the other was arrested Sunday afternoon, Terrazas said at the briefing at Will Rogers State Beach.
“The person in custody, we feel we have the right person,” Terrazas said.
More than 500 personnel are actively fighting the fire, according to Terrazas, who said no lives or homes have been lost but one firefighter suffered a minor injury, the Times reported.
According LAFD officials, the blaze ignited at “multiple points of origin” at around 10 p.m. Friday in a remote Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
“Regarding the cause, it is labeled suspicious,” Terrazas said.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that he expected firefighters would be battling the blaze, which remained 0% contained Monday afternoon, for two or three more days, the Times reported.
“While ... it’s zero containment, that doesn’t mean 100% out of control,” Garcetti said during the news briefing.
“We’re holding lines ... There’s no injuries reported, no structures under threat at this time. Evacuation orders, of course, have been issued on the county side, but no evacuation orders have been ordered in the city of Los Angeles,” he added.
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Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighter watches as smoke rises from a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations Flames from a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighting helicopter flies away after dropping water over a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighter watches as a firefighting helicopter drops water on a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighting helicopter prepares to drop water on a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations Smoke rises from a brush fire is seen behind homes in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighting helicopter drops water on a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighting helicopter flies away after dropping water over a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighting helicopter prepares to drop water on a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighting helicopter drops water onto a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations A firefighting helicopter prepares to drop water onto a brush fire scorching at least 100 acres in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles on Saturday, May 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations Firefighting helicopters prepare to drop water onto a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations Firefighters walk in line to fight the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Photos: 'Palisades Fire' in California threatens homes, prompts evacuations Members of the Hotshots fire crew walk in line during a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
