Laguna Beach Canyon Fire Was Arson: Alleged Arsonist Arrested, Police Say

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — November's Laguna Canyon Road fire was indeed arson, Laguna Beach Fire Department Arson Investigators said. On Wednesday, a 27-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of starting the brush fire, intentionally set on a hillside above Laguna Canyon Road, LBPD Sgt. Tim Kleiser said.

Footage from a nearby security camera was used to identify Thomas Dylan Richeson, a 27-year-old Laguna Beach resident, as being in the area at the time the Laguna Canyon brush fire began.

Laguna Beach Police and Fire Departments received a 911 call on Friday, Nov. 18 at just after 6:15 p.m. Kleiser said.

"A vegetation fire was reported behind a structure on the 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Road," he said.

Crews from Orange County Fire Authority, Laguna Beach Fire Department, and several members of the Laguna Beach Police Department responded to the scene of the fast-moving brush fire.

Laguna Canyon Road was closed for several hours as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze after it had burned over an acre.

"During the incident, a witness provided investigators with information about a man seen running from the area shortly after the fire started," Kleiser said. "Investigators used nearby video footage to identify the male."

"Richeson was interviewed and subsequently arrested for the arson," Kleiser said. "The suspect is currently in custody of the Orange County Jail and charged with Felony Arson."

Photo, courtesy LBPD, OCFA