Los Angeles, Oct 9, (dpa/GNA) – Nearly nine months after the outbreak of devastating fires in the greater Los Angeles area, a man has been arrested on suspicion of arson.
The 29-year-old is accused of starting a fire on New Year’s Day, that later developed into the catastrophic Palisades Fire, according to Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Southern California.
The fire on the outskirts of Los Angeles was initially extinguished by firefighters on New Year’s Day but continued to smoulder underground. It flared up again on January 7, driven by strong winds, investigators reported.
The suspect, who now resides in the US state of Florida, is accused of deliberately starting the fire in California. Investigators found an image created with ChatGPT on the man’s electronic devices depicting a burning city. They also cited surveillance footage, witness statements, and other potential evidence.
Two major wildfires, the Palisades Fire on the western edge of Los Angeles and the so-called Eaton Fire near Pasadena and Altadena, destroyed more than 16,000 buildings at the start of the year.
Firefighters worked for weeks to contain the blazes. At least 31 people lost their lives.
GNA