Crime alert, hourly update. Breaking Crime News now. I'm Nicole Parton. A rapidly spreading wildfire now

referred to as the Kenneth Fire has prompted large-scale evacuations in California.

Authorities are treating the blaze as a potential arson and a suspect has been apprehended.

The fire is advancing quickly through the West Hills,

necessitating the deployment of 900 weary firefighters

who have been redirected from other critical fires

across Southern California to safeguard homes and control the inferno.

LAPD senior lead officer Charles Denzel informed News Nation that a suspect

is in custody believed to have deliberately ignited the fire. Take a listen. What we know right now is that

the incident occurred, started here, and about 20 minutes, 30 minutes later, a suspect was detained over in Woodland Hills area by citizens.

The officer confirmed that it was citizens who apprehended the suspect in the Woodland Hills area.

It is currently being investigated as a crime, Denzel confirmed.

When asked about the intentional nature of the fire, he added that while

there is no clear motive at this moment, the affected area has been roped off for further inquiry.

According to sources from Daily Mail.com, a local resident dialed 911 around 4.30 p.m.

to report a man attempting to ignite a fire located in that area.

The suspect has been taken into custody at Topanga Station. Officials issued a stark warning Thursday

night urging residents to heed evacuation orders. Senator Adam Schiff emphasized the seriousness of the situation, saying,

if you stay, you're going to die. He added, when you receive an evacuation order, evacuate

immediately. You may think you can escape the fire, but you cannot outrun these flames. Staying put

could be fatal. The Kenneth fire has already

consumed 960 acres and poses a threat to the Malibu Canyon area that's north of the 101 freeway,

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