Los Angeles wildfires: California firebug arrest caught on video as police warn of arsonists

FIRST ON FOX VIDEO: Police and residents of Azusa, California, a small city in Los Angeles County, teamed up Friday to stop a suspected arsonist in his tracks as at least three large wildfires threaten the region and winds are expected to pick up again.

With increased officers on patrol amid the wildfire emergency, Azusa Police Department Capt. Robert Landeros said the first responding officer quickly arrived on the scene at Pioneer Park around 11:30 p.m. after neighbors confronted the homeless suspect, who was still there when the first officer arrived.

"This was intentional," Landeros told Fox News Digital on Monday. "Some of the neighbors confronted him, stopped him from setting an additional fire in the park."

Video shows an Azusa officer handcuffing a man just steps from a billowing brush fire, which authorities say county firefighters quickly extinguished.

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Azusa police have arrested a 39-year-old homeless arson suspect, Jose Carranza-Escobar, just steps from a small brush fire that they say he admitted to lighting as Los Angeles battles multiple large wildfires. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Police have identified the suspect as 39-year-old Jose Carranza-Escobar, "a transient" whose last known address was also in Azusa. They said he admitted to starting the brush fire.

The arrest comes as firefighters continue to battle at least three active wildfires in Los Angeles County that have killed at least 24 and damaged thousands of homes and businesses.

Carranza-Escobar has been charged with three separate arson charges and is facing nine years in state prison if convicted. 

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Azusa police have arrested Jose Carranza-Escobar, a 39-year-old homeless arson suspect, just steps from a small brush fire that they say he admitted to lighting as Los Angeles battles multiple large wildfires. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

Landeros said Azusa police and partner agencies, including Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's Office, the county sheriff's office, arson investigators in neighboring departments and the California National Guard are taking a "zero-tolerance" approach to arson as high winds and the dry climate fuel raging wildfires across Southern California.

"Everybody’s out there," he said. "We’re watching. Even our citizens are."

As of Monday night, 10 people have been arrested for looting and arson, Hochman said at a press conference. Nine arrests have been tied to looting in both the Palisades and Eden fires, with one person being arrested for arson. 

According to Hochman, Damari Bell and Martrell Peoples are charged with first-degree residential burglary, looting and grand theft after both men allegedly stole more than $200,000 worth of belongings. If convicted, Peoples, a convicted felon, could face a potential sentence of life in prison due to California’s Three Strikes Law.

Travon Coleman, who accompanied Bell and Peoples out of a Koreatown apartment, was allegedly driving a second vehicle and sped off while Bell and Peoples were stopped, running a red light and crashing into another vehicle. Coleman is charged with one count of felony hit-and-run causing great bodily injury and is also facing a maximum sentence of life in prison under the Three Strikes Law.

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Azusa police have arrested 39-year-old homeless arson suspect Jose Carranza-Escobar just steps from a small brush fire that they say he admitted to lighting as Los Angeles battles multiple large wildfires. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

The foothills outside town are a high-risk fire area and also have homeless encampments, where fires have broken out before, he said.

"We're constantly conducting enforcement operations in that area," he said. "Residents are obviously on edge when there are major fires."

Strong winds are expected to return to the region this week, which could fuel the existing fires as crews continue to fight them. The winds can both fan flames and knock down trees and branches that can burn.

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"Azusa PD urges everyone to remain alert as fires continue to affect the county," Landeros said in a statement over the weekend. "We must be cautious of individuals who may enter our community with the intent to start fires."

Last week, another group of Los Angeles residents stopped a homeless man seen carrying a blowtorch. He was taken into custody, but police said they didn't have enough evidence to charge him with arson.

Video of that incident shows him holding a torch head and a yellow fuel tank before at least five residents surrounded him and tackled him to the ground.

Fox News' Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.