Some Southern California residents are refusing to leave their homes amid the ongoing wildfires due to looting in the fiery Los Angeles area.
Newsweek has contacted the LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Office by email for comment.
The Context
Wildfires in Los Angeles have caused widespread devastation, destroying nearly 2,000 structures and consuming 42 square miles, an area nearly the size of San Francisco.
Two new fires erupted in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, compounding the challenges for firefighters already battling major blazes that have killed five people, forced 130,000 evacuations, and devastated communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena. Fire crews are working urgently to contain the destruction.
What To Know
Local news station KCAL reported Wednesday that multiple residents told reporters that they're worried about evacuating their homes due to the flames, but also due to looters reported to be taking items from the affluent neighborhoods.
Reporting from damage from the Eaton fire, reporter Haley Winslow said Wednesday, "It has turned into the wild wild west here. It is just complete insanity on all corners.
"Police are doing the best they can, They're seeing looters walking down the street with large TVs just taking advantage of what little this town has left," Winslow said.
KCAL Reporter Madisen Keavy added elsewhere, "Our cameras saw three men on scooters immediately turn around when they saw police."
Local resident Allison Agsten told KTLA, "We just started seeing all these cars pull up, doors open, groups of men running up our street, going up to the doors of these houses."
How Many People Have Been Arrested in California?
At least 20 people have been arrested in the wildfire evacuation zones in Los Angeles this week, law enforcement confirmed Thursday.
"Twenty individuals chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property," LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press conference, offering up no more additional information on the arrests.
What Have LA Officials Said About Looters?
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger told reporters Thursday that looting during this emergency is "unacceptable."
"I promise you, you will be held accountable. Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis," she said.
District Attorney of Los Angeles County Nathan Hochman said in a video message to looter posted to X, "Let me make it quite clear what's going to happen: The DA's office, working with law enforcement, is going to arrest you, they're going to prosecute you, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law. That's a promise."
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stayed silent Thursday when questioned by a Sky News reporter about her initial absence as wildfires raged across her jurisdiction. Bass had been visiting Ghana when the flames started on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Bass said during a press conference that she took the "fastest route back" to California with the help of a military plane.
"I took the fastest route back, which included being on a military plane, which facilitated our communications," Bass said. "So I was able to be on the phone the entire time of the flight."
What Other People Are Saying
Actor Patrick Schwarzenegger in a response to Hochman: "Good! Looters that are taking advantage of this heartbreaking situation should get the full penalty. Disgusting. Thank you @NathanHochmanDA."
KCAL Reporter Madisen Keavy on seeing looters near Hollywood Boulevard: "There's someone detained in the back of the car, caught in the act of looting some of the homes up this curve here."
California resident Allison Agsten to KTLA: "My next-door neighbor said there were like 100 people that came up on scooters and were trying to get into any and all houses on this street."
What Happens Next
Fire crews continue to try and contain the wildfires. The Palisades rire, the largest of the fires, remains at 0 percent containment as of Thursday afternoon. The nearby Eaton rire, which has destroyed approximately 1,000 structures in North Pasadena and Altadena, also has yet to be contained.
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