Authorities have arrested a man who disguised himself as a firefighter and broke into a home in the Malibu area during a massive wildfire in Los Angeles, FOX News reports. At a press conference on Sunday (January 12), Sheriff Robert Luna of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the arrest and said he was almost fooled by the robber who tried to check on a person he believed to be a firefighter. said.
“When I went to the Malibu area, I saw a gentleman who looked like a firefighter and he was sitting there and I asked him if he was OK. I didn’t know he was handcuffed,” Luna said. reporters.
“We’re turning him over to the LAPD because even though he was dressed like a firefighter, he wasn’t. He was just arrested for a home invasion. So these are my This is an issue that our front-line lawmakers and police officers are grappling with.”
Luna said about 29 people have been arrested near wildfires in the Los Angeles area. One person was arrested Saturday night for violating the city’s curfew, and three others were arrested the night before on suspicion of robbery.
The police chief warned that the curfew from 6pm to 6am local time will continue from Sunday night until Monday.
“Unless you are a public safety official or other disaster worker, you have no reason to be in these areas. And if you are in those areas, you could be arrested. Enforcement of the curfew is a way to ensure safety.” It is an important tool for making arson areas and evacuated lands safe and preventing looters from entering. ”
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The devastation caused by wildfires in LA
Officials say conditions are expected to worsen over the next few days, with the possibility of further deterioration in the wildfire area. Wind speeds are expected to reach 120 km/h over the next few days.
“What we’re concerned about is that the winds will pick up tonight and into Monday into Wednesday. The overall duration of these winds doesn’t look good,” a meteorologist was quoted as saying by the LA Times. .
The number of people confirmed dead in two wildfires that burned for the sixth day in a row on Sunday rose to 24 over the weekend. Eight of the deaths were found in the Palisades fire zone and 16 in the Eaton fire zone.
The Los Angeles wildfires threaten to become one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, with estimated losses already exceeding $135 billion. The BBC reports that total losses could reach $150 billion, making it one of the costliest wildfires the country has ever experienced.
