Man Arrested After Fire Destroys House in Bell Canyon
A Reseda man allegedly settled a score with a resident of Bell Canyon on Friday by torching his home, causing more than $1 million in damage, authorities said.
Dale Luncinski, 36, was arrested on suspicion of arson outside the flaming house in the 300 block of Bell Canyon Road about 8:15 a.m., said Det. Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
“He was very cooperative,” Buschow said. “He didn’t resist or try to get away.”
Luncinski allegedly forced open a door and set several spots ablaze, apparently in retaliation over a dispute with the person renting the house, officials said. Nobody was home at the time.
Firefighters from Ventura and Los Angeles counties sped into the gated community, but the house was a total loss.
Officials did not know the nature of the dispute and did not release the identity of the resident.
“It was a bizarre situation,” Buschow said. “This was an extreme way of expressing dissatisfaction.”
Luncinski was booked at the East County Sheriff’s Station in Thousand Oaks.
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