California Wildfire: 2 Arsonists Suspected in Raging Pacific Palisades Blaze
Another California wildfire has erupted and prompted evacuations in the Pacific Palisades community of Los Angeles this weekend.
The Weather Channel reported that the Palisades fire began on Friday, around 10 p.m., at a remote area in the Santa Monica Mountains. The said affected area is 18 miles west of Los Angeles. Authorities reported no casualties and damaged on structures, Associated Press reported.
As of 1 p.m. Sunday, the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LAFD) underscored that the California wildfire was zero percent contained and has consumed about two square miles of the land.
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California Wildfire Prompts Evacuation in Topanga
The wildfire caused the evacuation of residents of Topanga Canyon due to the flames that raced across ridges and sending huge plumes and rains of ashes across the surrounding neighborhoods and the U.S. 101 freeway in the north. About 1,000 Canyon area residents had been displaced from their homes.
ABC News reported that the livestock at ranches in some homes was moved to an emergency animal shelter in Pierce College, about eight miles away from the area.
Few dozens of residents from a hilly neighborhood were also alerted by the authorities to evacuate if the fire continues to grow.
What is the Situation in Palisades Amid California Wildfire?
By midday Sunday, the California wildfire has charred about two square miles of brush and trees. The said wildfire is burning in rugged terrain and steep hillsides where vegetation has not burned for more than 50 years.
Because of this, the fire crew relied on aircraft making drops of water to the area.
"We're trying to keep it out of the old-growth which is 50-60 years that hasn't burned," said a spokesman from LAFD, David Ortiz told ABC News.
Ortiz added that their objective is to try to keep it out of the vegetation and "protect the communities and neighborhoods to the west" since the fire is closest to them.
LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart noted that their department is seeing an increased fire activity.
The Weather Channel noted that onshore winds are expected to pick up on Sunday and are expected to pick up on Sunday afternoon. The fire department noted that the said winds could push the fire to the northwestern area.
How Did the California Wildfire Start?
ABC News reported that the arson suspect is on the loose on Sunday morning after kindling a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades.
Los Angeles Police Department said a police helicopter spotted what appeared to be a person setting fires in the area on Friday night.
In a tweet, Air Rescue 5 from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department earlier said it was in the Topanga Area searching for the arson suspect that sparked the California wildfire.
#PalisadesFire. #LASD Air Rescue 5 inserting LASD SEB personnel in the Topanga area in search of arson suspect setting fires. pic.twitter.com/tUyDzV1UTx
— SEB (@SEBLASD) May 16, 2021
Arson investigators identified one individual who was detained and released. Investigators then detained a second suspect for questioning on Sunday night, according to Stewart.
READ MORE: California Wildfire Smoke Causes Drop in Solar Energy Production
WATCH: Palisades Fire Explodes to 750 Acres, Triggering Mandatory Evacuations in Topanga - From ABC 7
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