Homeless Man Arrested for Starting Fire in Azusa Park During Widespread LA Wildfires

Jose Carranza-Escobar admitted to setting a small brush fire as Southern California grapples with destructive wildfires claiming lives and displacing thousands.

• Azusa police arrested Jose Carranza-Escobar, identified as a homeless man, for allegedly starting a fire at Pioneer Park late Friday night.
• Residents reported the incident and confronted Carranza-Escobar before officers arrived to take him into custody; he admitted to starting the fire.
• The fire, quickly extinguished by Los Angeles County firefighters, did not result in evacuations or significant damage, according to authorities.
• Southern California is currently battling multiple large-scale wildfires, including the Eaton Fire and Pacific Palisades fire, which have collectively burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed over 12,300 structures.
• The death toll from the ongoing wildfires has reached 16, with officials urging residents to remain vigilant as critical fire weather conditions persist.

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