Amid the ongoing Los Angeles County fires, there have been about 30 arrests made, with two people being arrested for curfew violations near Vice President Kamala Harris‘ Brentwood home and a third found impersonating a firefighter to burglarize evacuated homes in Malibu.
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As we previously shared, there have been at least seven fires (both big and small, with 5 major ones) that have engulfed different areas of Los Angeles County. The first to make headlines was the brush fire in the Pacific Palisades that broke out on Tuesday (January 7). The Palisades Fire grew quickly and did the most damage, doubling in size within an hour of erupting. This was the fire that led officials to issue one of the first evacuation alerts and implement a state of emergency.
Following the Palisades Fire were the Eaton Fire near Altadena and Pasadena; the Hurst Fire near Sylmar and Santa Clarita; the Lidia Fire in Acton and around Soledad Canyon Road; the Woodley Fire near Woodley and Sepulveda Basin; the Sunset Fire near Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood Hills; and the Kenneth Fire burning in West Hills. The latter notably threatened homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Other smaller fires were then reported near Studio City and Pacoima.
As of Sunday morning (January 12), the Palisades Fire has ravaged nearly 24,000 acres with a standstill of 11% containment, and the Eaton Fire, which has spanned over 14,100 acres, has been 27% contained. The Hurst fire, which has spanned 800 acres, has been 89% contained. The Kenneth Fire has been 100% contained after burning through more than 1,052 acres, and as of Saturday night (January 11), the Lidia Fire, Archer Fire, Woodley Fire, and Sunset Fire were all 100% contained after collectively scorching 487 acres.
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There have also been 16 deaths reported, with 16 people missing. Over 65,000 residents are still without power in Los Angeles County, and the NWS (National Weather Service) has issued red flag warnings, in effect until Wednesday (January 15).
On January 9 afternoon, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that he was working with officials to implement a curfew in fire areas, with plans to enforce it as soon as that evening. The National Guard was later deployed to facilitate curfew hours starting at 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. for two fire evacuation areas, including the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.
According to NBC Los Angeles, amid the ongoing Los Angeles County fires, two people were arrested for curfew violations near the Brentwood, California home of Vice President Kamala Harris. Early Saturday (January 11), two arrests were made in the Palisades Fire evacuation zone in Brentwood near VP Harris’ home, which is guarded by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles Police Department’s Metropolitan Division, Dignitary Protection Detail.
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A law enforcement source told NBC LA that the two men arrested during the Los Angeles fires were not on VP Kamala Harris’ property when they were detained, adding, “They likely had no idea where they were.” Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department were dispatched to the scene at around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday. Upon arrival, officers arrested the two men and discovered there was no evidence that the curfew violation suspects had ever entered the Brentwood home of Vice President Kamala Harris. It is currently unclear who reported the two men violating curfew near the VP’s home, much less the suspects’ names.
There were three additional Los Angeles County curfew violation arrests made in Malibu under the Pacific Palisades fire evacuation, with one suspect being accused of impersonating a firefighter. On Sunday (January 12), the Los Angeles Police Department reported that an anonymous call was made to the Los Angeles Fire Department on Friday evening (January 10). The caller claimed three men were driving around in a vehicle and going through burned-down homes, while also noting that the driver was wearing a Los Angeles Fire Department jacket.
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The driver was questioned and could not produce proper identification, nor did the fire station that he claimed to be connected to have him on record. All three men were arrested for Los Angeles County curfew violations, with the man wearing a firefighter uniform being arrested on suspicion of impersonating a firefighter and suspicion of burglary. An investigation has since been launched.
According to NBC LA, the five arrests for curfew violations amid the Los Angeles County fires are just a few of about 30 arrests being made in the wildfire evacuation zones. Authorities say the criminals are preying upon residents who have been forced to leave their homes in the deadly fires.
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