Homeless Man with blowtorch, suspected of arson during the Los Angeles wildfires

[Social Media]

 

The disturbing case of a homeless man wielding a blowtorch, suspected of arson during the Los Angeles wildfires, has reignited intense debate over the city’s approach to its worsening homelessness crisis. This incident highlights the escalating challenges posed by an influx of homeless encampments, which have been linked to a dramatic rise in fires across the city.  

Suspect arrested with ‘flamethrower’ near LA Fire is an illegal immigrant: sources https://t.co/BkWVFjD4No pic.twitter.com/AfliiC3TAv

— New York Post (@nypost) January 13, 2025

 

Between 2020 and 2023, fires attributed to homeless encampments surged to an alarming 13,909, doubling in just three years, according to a recent report. The danger these blazes pose is felt acutely by residents like Hollywood realtor Levi Freeman, who expressed his fear to NBC, saying, “A tent fire could set other buildings ablaze and then go to the next building if [firefighters] can’t get here fast enough. People are literally dying in the streets in tents burning down around them.”  

 

The scale of the issue has even reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in June that municipalities can arrest individuals camping on the streets. However, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass dismissed the ruling as political, stating, “The only way to address this crisis is to bring people indoors with housing and supportive services. In the City of Los Angeles, we will continue leading with this approach.”  

 

Despite her initial stance, Bass has signaled a willingness to collaborate with President-elect Donald Trump on homelessness solutions, including moving unhoused individuals to shelters on federal property. This shift comes amid growing public frustration and mounting incidents that highlight the dire consequences of the current crisis.  

 

One such incident involved a fiery explosion at a homeless encampment in June that injured eleven Los Angeles firefighters, one of whom suffered severe facial, head, and ear trauma. LAFD Captain Erik Scott voiced his frustration, stating, “It was caused by the homeless, and we nearly lost a firefighter over this. I’m asking the city of Los Angeles, where is the outrage for what’s happening in the city, because what we’re doing today is not working.”  

 

The fire department has since launched targeted efforts to mitigate risks posed by illegal encampments in high-risk fire zones. Despite these measures, alarming incidents continue to emerge. Last Thursday, Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva, an undocumented migrant from Mexico, was apprehended by residents after allegedly using a blowtorch to ignite debris near a massive wildfire. While arrested, he has not yet been charged with arson.  

 

In a parallel case, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced charges against nine individuals for looting evacuated homes and another for arson. Separately, Jose Escobar faces up to nine years in prison for allegedly starting a fire at Pioneer Park, though it was unrelated to the current wildfires.  

 

Former Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Chief Patrick Jordan took to social media to stress the broader implications, stating, “50% of the fires in Los Angeles are homeless related, costing LA hundreds of millions. A third of all calls involve arson. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out, we reduce the homeless problem, we reduce fire risks in Los Angeles.”  

 

For many residents, like Jeanne Rice, the crisis has made daily life increasingly precarious. Speaking after a recent neighborhood fire, she lamented, “We can’t even walk around the neighborhood safely anymore.” As homelessness continues to strain public safety and resources, the city of Los Angeles faces mounting pressure to implement more effective solutions.

 

Based on a report by NYP 2024-01-15

 

 

[Cryingdick]

Useless illegal alien is how it should be summed up. I guess it is just handful of fires burning a few thousand homes... 

 

https://nypost.com/2025/01/13/us-news/suspect-arrested-with-flamethrower-near-kenneth-fire-is-an-illegal-immigrant-report/