TOPANGA, Calif. — Humans cause the vast majority of wildfires that threaten homes, and the rush to find the culprit sometimes leads to mistakes.

Will Carey lives in Topanga, where smoke and firefighting aircraft going to and from the Palisades fire are visible from his yard.

Carey is not just an onlooker, however. He helps lead a group of volunteers known as Arson Watch. They go out when fire danger is high and look for things that could start a wildfire. In some cases, they radio for backup, but often a face-to-face conversation changes everything.

"We have no real authority, so we accomplish what we’re doing when we talk to people with tact, politeness," said Carey. "And I’ve encountered smokers that look like perhaps difficult people, and I’ve never had a problem if I talk to them calmly."

Fire authorities say people like Carey spoke up and helped them find and detain someone believed to be responsible for the Palisades fire.

"It’s not just Arson Watch volunteers who are doing it," Carey said. "It’s the whole community that makes a difference for this, and I think that’s how this person was identified."

At first, someone else was detained and then released. Nevertheless, Los Angeles City Fire Department Captain Erik Scott is happy with the swift work of tipsters and investigators.

“When people come to Southern California, and if they’re thinking of starting a fire, you better believe we’re going to use every single resource we have, and we are going to track down every lead, and we’re going to detain and arrest people and hold them accountable,” he said.

There is a lot at stake, so emotions can take over as new evidence comes to light.

"I’d like to stay here in this house," said Carey. "I’ve been in this house 40 years. I’d like to be here another 40 years."

Carey may not be at the fire’s edge, but he can do his part.