Arson Suspects Admit To Liking The Smell, Chaos And Destruction: LAPD

LOS ANGELES, CA - Police in Los Angeles County have arrested at least four people for arson since the outbreak of deadly wildfires ravaged the city, including two this week as the weather service forecast 'hurricane-force' wind gusts.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department chief, the suspects explained why they like to watch things burn, and city leaders did little to hide their disgust at a Tuesday morning press conference. With hundreds of thousands of people suffering due to the fires, the alleged attempts at arson hit a raw nerve.

In many of the incidents, it was bystanders who stopped and detained the alleged arsonists.

At approximately 5:15 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a call near the intersection of Glen Oaks and Van Nuys Boulevard, where a citizen had detained a possible arson suspect, said Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell.

"Upon arrival, officers took the suspect into custody, and the citizen had already extinguished a nearby fire in a tree," McDonnell said. "The suspect admitted to starting the fire because he 'liked the smell of burning leaves.'

The man was arrested on suspicion of arson.

"Later that evening at about 9:30 in the area of Santa Monica and Vermont, Fire Department personnel responded to reports of a suspect setting multiple pallets of rubbish and trash on fire," he added.

The fire department quickly put out the fire, and the suspect, a woman, was taken into custody.

She, too, had a reason for setting the fires, said McDonnell.

"The suspect admitted to setting multiple fires that day, and stated that she enjoyed causing chaos and destruction," McDonnell added.

She also faces arson charges, he said.

"As we continue to manage this historic catastrophic impact, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who has provided tips and remain vigilant in keeping the city safe,"McDonnell said. "Your cooperation is crucial during this time, and you can hear from those two examples I mentioned, there are people out there who this is what they do."

In fact, since the historic Santa Ana windstorm hit last Tuesday, there have been multiple reports of arson including several calls to the California Highway Patrol about people setting fires to vegetation alongside Los Angeles area freeways.

Another arrest occurred Sunday night in North Hollywood, where officers responded to a report of a possible arson suspect who was using a barbecue lighter to set fires. Officers located the suspect and arrested him on a felony arson warrant.

Yet another arson arrest was made along San Vicente Boulevard in West Los Angeles, where a suspect was spotted setting fire to a trash can, McDonnell said. Residents directed responding officers to the suspect, who was taken into custody, and the fire was doused. McDonnell said video from a nearby business caught the suspect starting the fire.

Another man, Jose Gerardo Escobar, 39, was charged with one count each of arson, arson during a state of emergency and attempted arson involving a blaze that was quickly contained late last Friday night at Pioneer Park in Azusa.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has vowed to seek the maximum penalty for would-be arsonists during the ongoing crisis.

Authorities have not determined a cause of the Eaton or Palsiades fires, which are estimated to be the costliest fire disaster in the nation's history.

As of Wednesday, roughly 38,000 acres have burned in the Eaton and Palisades fires and 24 people have died and 37 remain missing. At least 12,000 structures have been destroyed, and tens of thousands of people remain evacuated.

City News Service contributed to this report.