Officers in Azusa, California have arrested a man suspected of arson following a brush fire that broke out in Pioneer Park. As wildfires ravage Southern California, Azusa Police Department apprehended unhoused man Jose Carranza-Escobar on suspicion of igniting the fire at around 11:40pm on Friday as he was standing near the flames.

Azusa police have arrested a 39-year-old homeless man on arson charges after arriving to find him standing just steps away from a brush fire in Pioneer Park.

The major wind event is again bringing dangerous fire weather conditions — meaning that if a fire sparks, the blaze could quickly spread into an erratic, fast-moving wildfire.

Police in Azusa announced that a man was arrested on Friday night after he allegedly started a brush fire in a park not far from where the Eaton Fire is still burning. According to the Azusa Police Department,

Azusa Police arrested a man for allegedly setting a tree on fire at a park in Azusa. While he has been charged with arson, the case is not connected to any of the major wildfires burning in Southern California.

California is typically ranked as the second most expensive state to live in, after Hawaii, with costs averaging around 30% higher than the rest of the U.S., per U.S. News & World Report. The state has the highest individual tax rate and the highest gas tax, 68 cents a gallon in 2024.

Frustrated Los Angeles County evacuees are anxious to return to their houses to survey damage, retrieve necessities, figure out what their insured losses are and assess what can be salvaged of their remaining property.

Two men have been charged with felony arson in Los Angeles in unrelated cases as police and firefighters combat flames and crime in Southern California.

On Friday, January 10, 2025, emergency services received a call to Pioneer Park shortly after 11:30 p.m. to head to Azusa to control the blaze, indicating that a man had started the flames and was still at the scene.

Dangerous Santa Ana winds are expected to return to the Los Angeles area this week, potentially fueling the growth of new and existing wildfires, according to FOX Weather.

Air quality is a big concern for everyone in Southern California, even for those who don't live near fire zones. We answer your questions here.

According to Azusa police, a man who has admitted to setting a fire at a park has been arrested as the investigation continues.