One observer said the man had a "flamethrower"-like device and was spotted trying to light something behind a car.

LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said an arrest was made Thursday afternoon in Woodland Hills after a man was allegedly attempting to light a fire.

The arrest occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Ybarra Road, just south of the fire’s origin, after local residents reportedly spotted the suspect attempting to ignite a blaze. The residents detained him until police arrived, with photos shared on the Citizen app showing officers surrounding the scene where the man was taken into custody.