An arson suspect remains on the loose after surveillance video captured the fugitive setting a Panorama City home on fire.
On Nov. 26, the suspect, wearing a facemask and hoodie, is seen approaching the victim’s front door at around 4:30 a.m. They were carrying what appeared to be a gas canister.
The suspect kneels down and sets up something off-camera. Moments later, a bright flame is ignited on the front porch. The suspect runs away as the fire continues growing. A vehicle, possibly belonging to the arsonist, was spotted driving away from the home.
The homeowners were out of town and their daughter was the only person sleeping inside. She did not want to be identified out of fear for her safety, but her sister said she remains frightened and in shock.
“The smoke detector woke her up and that’s when she realized something was wrong and she saw the fire,” the victim’s sister told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade.
She initially tried extinguishing the flames herself but was unable to, so she called the authorities for help.
An arson suspect lights a Panorama City home on fire on Nov. 26, 2024. 
The arson suspect walked around, casing homes in the neighborhood before lighting a Panorama City house on fire on Nov. 26., 2024. 
The arson suspect walked around, casing homes in the neighborhood before lighting a Panorama City house on fire on Nov. 26., 2024. 
The suspect carried a gas canister onto a porch before lighting the home on fire on Nov. 26, 2024. 
As the fire grew, the suspect ran away from the Panorama City home on Nov. 26, 2024. 
The fire destroyed the front porch and doorway of a Panorama City home on Nov. 26, 2024.
“The firefighters came, the police came and put the fire out,” she said.
Their neighbors realized the suspect was captured on their home surveillance cameras walking around the street just hours before the home was set on fire.
“We can see somebody walking down the street at around 11:30 p.m. from one of our neighbors and another neighbor had footage of someone walking down the street at around 1:30 a.m., 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.,” said the victim’s sister.
She said it appeared the person was casing the homes before deciding on a target.
“You can see they’re looking at our house,” she said. “They’re walking slowly and looking back.”
Many questions remain and the victim’s family said they were stunned that anyone would target them specifically.
“Honestly, my parents are the nicest people and my sister works from home and it just doesn’t really make any sense why somebody would want to target us,” she said.
Arson investigators later found a gas canister and clothing dumped in a nearby bush that they believe belonged to the arsonist.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call the police.
