The Los Angeles Police Department said on January 12 that it had arrested 29 more suspects overnight near large fires, with 25 people arrested near the Eaton fire and 4 people near the Palisades fire.
In the case near the Palisades fire, police discovered a man driving a pickup truck, pretending to work at a fire station. However, after a quick check with the Los Angeles Fire Department, it was discovered that his name was not on the employee list. Police immediately arrested the above man and other suspects sitting in the car, according to Los Angeles Times.
Firefighters put out a fire in the Mandeville Canyon area, Los Angeles on January 12
“There are people who are willing to risk anything to do what they want,” Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said of the suspect who wore a firefighter uniform and broke into people’s homes to steal items. Police said the latest arrests were not residents near the fire area, with some carrying guns and drugs.
Nearly a week since the serious forest fire broke out in Los Angeles, authorities have imposed a curfew, patrolled and arrested many cases of curfew violations and taking advantage of the chaotic situation to plot theft. On January 11, Los Angeles police arrested two suspects in front of US Vice President Kamala Harris’ house in the Brentwood residential area, after receiving reports of a possible burglary.
After some positive signs in fire suppression work over the weekend, the forest fire situation in Los Angeles is at risk of worsening this week. The US National Weather Service (NWS) predicts that strong winds, gusts from 80 – 104 km/h, may appear on January 13 – 15. Although the winds are not as severe as last week, NWS warns this is still an extremely dangerous situation.
According to CNN’s update on January 13, forest fires in Los Angeles have killed at least 24 people and dozens are missing, burned more than 16,000 hectares and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.
