Two people have been arrested on suspicion of looting in Southern California during wildfire evacuations amid the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires which have claimed two lives.
Their identities and details of their alleged crimes have yet to be released.
Newsweek has contacted the LA County Sheriff's Department by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated as four wildfires spread in Los Angeles County: the Palisades Fire, spanning nearly 3,000 acres, the Eaton Fire, over 2,000 acres, the Hurst Fire, about 500 acres, and the Woodley Fire, 75 acres. These fires remain 0 percent contained. The Tyler Fire in Riverside County is 50 percent contained, officials said Wednesday.
What To Know
Robert Luna, the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, revealed the looting arrests Wednesday in a press conference.
"It's always sad when I have to say this, but part of our responsibility is to make sure no one loots or steals from our residents or our community members who are already being impacted," Luna said. "And I'm sad to report we made two arrests this morning for looting.
"So if you are thinking about coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, I'm going to tell you something: You're going to be caught, you're going to be arrested and you're going to be prosecuted," he said.
The Pacific Palisades is an affluent neighborhood and home to celebrities including Steve Guttenberg, Adam Sandler, Dan Aykroyd, Billy Crystal, Dr. Dre, Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, and Kate Hudson.
As of 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, more than 80,000 people in Southern California were under mandatory evacuation orders.
Over 1,000 structures have been destroyed by the four fires, and over 10,300 homes are threatened by the blazes, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Two civilians have died in the Eaton Fire, Chief Anthony C. Marrone announced in Wednesday's press conference. There have also been "a number of significant injuries," he said.
What People Are Saying
L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger on Wednesday: "When you are told to evacuate, evacuate. This is not a drill."
Amrita Khalid, a journalist who lives in Santa Monica, told the BBC on Wednesday: "I can't stress to you how normal this morning was in Santa Monica. It just seemed like another nice winter morning. But then, I was walking home from the gym and I just noticed big black billowing clouds of smoke. It looks like Mars, it looks bright red."
What Happens Next
Fire crews continue to try to contain the four fires.
Follow Newsweek's Southern California live blog for the latest updates.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
English (US) ·