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

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Californians confront man accused of starting fire in Los Angeles

A group of Californians confronted a man who allegedly started a fire at Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sunday, July 13. (Credit: Instagram/dstylemedia)

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A group of Californians were captured on video confronting a man who allegedly set fire to trees and bushes in Los Angeles, holding him until police showed up 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. 

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The suspect is seen being confronted by Californians in Runyon Canyon on Sunday, July 13, prior to his arrest. (Instagram/dstylemedia)

Another woman was then seen walking up to the man and telling him about how there are houses nearby. 

“What the f—? You should be hospitalized,” she told him. “You are going to be fined and hospitalized.” 

The video concludes with a helicopter and fire truck arriving to combat the blaze. The man was placed in handcuffs, drawing cheers from a crowd that had gathered. 

The Los Angeles Police Department did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

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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,” Davanh Dimarco, a witness, told Fox11 Los Angeles. “There was no one else coming out of the trees. Apparently, he had a blowtorch.” 

“He said, ‘I’m a fire marshal and this is a controlled burn,’” added another witness, Scotty Mitchell. “I said, ‘Show me your badge.’ Clearly, he didn’t have a badge. He probably doesn’t even have a toy badge.” 

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

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

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

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.