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/

[soalbundy]

I assume the man is homeless no more.

[Yellowtail]

It is amusing (ironic?) that the leftist Los Angeles mayor cut the fire department's budget (at least in part) support the homeless and the illegals, and then (apparently) a homeless illegal is caught lighting fires. 

 

To think the mayor was on Biden's short-list to be his VP... 

[spidermike007]

Life in prison or some sort of penal colony with forced labor would not be too heavy a penalty for someone who deliberately set one of these fires, a firing squad might be more appropriate. 

[Yellowtail]

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Life in prison or some sort of penal colony with forced labor would not be too heavy a penalty for someone who deliberately set one of these fires, a firing squad might be more appropriate. 

Newsome is anti-death penalty and pro illegal immigration. 

 

He should just say he's a woman and get life in a woman's prison. 

[Donga]

Wonder how may Jihadists, other terrorists or Climate Change activists live in California or any other state where a few fires can cause such calamity and tragedy. Not sure what the remedy is, but can't help thinking we're going to see more fires and of course they'll all be blamed on Climate Change.

 

[malibukid]

Karma's a bitch

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

It is amusing (ironic?) that the leftist Los Angeles mayor cut the fire department's budget (at least in part) support the homeless and the illegals, and then (apparently) a homeless illegal is caught lighting fires. 

 

Not as good as the lefty theatre in France that threw it's doors open to 250 immigrants for a free show, who now refuse to leave and they are going bankrupt. 😄😄

 

https://gript.ie/french-leftist-theatre-face-bankruptcy-as-african-migrants-refuse-to-leave/

 

 

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

 

To think the mayor was on Biden's short-list to be his VP... 

 

Why am I not surprised. She ticked all the same boxes as Harris (female, of colour, chronically inept).

 

 

[Freddy42OZ]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Life in prison or some sort of penal colony with forced labor would not be too heavy a penalty for someone who deliberately set one of these fires, a firing squad might be more appropriate. 

 

 

Burned at the stake!

[Yellowtail]

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Not as good as the lefty theatre in France that threw it's doors open to 250 immigrants for a free show, who now refuse to leave and they are going bankrupt. 😄😄

 

https://gript.ie/french-leftist-theatre-face-bankruptcy-as-african-migrants-refuse-to-leave/

 

 

 

Why am I not surprised. She ticked all the same boxes as Harris (female, of colour, chronically inept).

 

 

That is about the funniest thing I've seen since Trump at McD's 

[black tabby12345]

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

I assume the man is homeless no more.

 

Bright Side of that event.

Could be a Permanent Resident of the Max Security Stockade ever after.

All costs of  living on the house...

[impulse]

The saddest thing is, regardless of the outcome, California will probably have to spend $millions to defend the guy at trial and more $millions to provide him with "humane treatment", either in a prison, or some other institution.

 

[jcmj]

Deport the illegal and the convicted criminals that started these different fires and crimes. They need to be doing something that shows them that this isn’t acceptable in the USA

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, jcmj said:

Deport the illegal and the convicted criminals that started these different fires and crimes. They need to be doing something that shows them that this isn’t acceptable in the USA

 

The problem has been that they're back across the border in days.  Some of the infamous murderers have been deported multiple times.  The only way to protect the public from them is a custodial sentence.  Or the death penalty.

 

[riclag]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

The saddest thing is, regardless of the outcome, California will probably have to spend $millions to defend the guy at trial and more $millions to provide him with "humane treatment", either in a prison, or some other institution.

 

What i found particularly peculiar was the reference to undocumented in a New York Post article ,than I read

”Based on a report by NYP”

at the bottom!

 

 

[dinsdale]

Of course the usual reaction from the believe what you read and jump to conclusions crowd occurring on this thread. Interestingly there have been two more separate fires start after this blokes arrest. It's still too early but all blazes are being investigated. I have not seen anything saying this bloke is responsible for any of the fires. He's not the only one to be arrested for arson. Another has been arrested for setting fire to a bin, however, this article is predominantly about homelessness and not the origins of the fires.

[riclag]

31 minutes ago, jcmj said:

Deport the illegal and the convicted criminals that started these different fires and crimes. They need to be doing something that shows them that this isn’t acceptable in the USA

Good idea ! Lets go further , Lets put restrictions on federal funds that my taxes pay for that enable sanctuary cities & states to harbor illegal migrants.

[riclag]

The illegal had a blowtorch!

 

“People — whether purposeful, reckless or simply careless —  are responsible for about 95% of California’s wildfires. In 2023 alone, people caused more than 7,000 wildfires in California; nationally, it was more than 50,000”.

 

https://calmatters.org/environment/wildfires/2024/07/california-wildfires-human-causes/#:~:text=People — whether purposeful%2C reckless or,it was more than 50%2C000.

 

[Sir Dude]

Well, surprise surpise, the usual demographic perp... toss the key away.