Surveillance video shows the moment an arson suspect approached a Panorama City home, walking forward with some sort of metal can, moments before the porch went up in flames Tuesday morning.
Firefighters responded around 4:40 a.m. to the fire, which appears to have been a seemingly random crime, according to Los Angeles Fire Department officials. The can was placed near the entrance to the home by the person in the video, authorities said, resulting in a fire that damaged the front door, porch and a chair there. No injuries were reported and no other parts of the home were damaged.
Ring camera footage captured the person, wearing a hooded sweatshirt with head and face covered, walking to the porch before setting down the can. Later that morning, the homeowner discovered her porch was on fire, with cell phone footage showing flames tearing through the front of the house along Lorne Street.
LAFD investigators test a substance in the metal can to see what it contains and investigate other parts of the case to try to figure out what happened and who was behind the crime. Officials said there have been no other arsons in the area.
LAFD has not released a suspect description or other details.
