A man disguised as a firefighter was arrested on Sunday in Malibu, California, as authorities continue to crack down on looters exploiting evacuation zones during one of the worst wildfires in Los Angeles County's history.
The suspect, who posed as a firefighter to access evacuated areas, was among 29 individuals already arrested in connection with looting and burglary. Authorities have pledged to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent.
Photographs of the arrest, shared on social media by authorities, show the man dressed in fire boots and a yellow jacket bearing an outdated insignia of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Sheriff's deputies detained him near Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades.
Officials said the man had no affiliation with fire services and was caught attempting to burglarize homes abandoned during the fires. Another individual accompanying him was also taken into custody.
The Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires have been particularly devastating, collectively claiming 24 lives and destroying over 12,000 structures. The Palisades Fire, which continue to tear through affluent neighborhoods and celebrity homes, has burned more than 23,700 acres. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire has burned over 14,000 acres. At least 24 people have been reported dead as a result of the fires so far.
To protect communities from looters exploiting wildfire devastation, Los Angeles County officials imposed a nighttime curfew. Announced Thursday, the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew targets areas hardest hit by the Palisades and Eaton fires to prevent further victimization.
"Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis," said L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger back on Thursday, while stressing the curfew is a protective measure, not a punitive one, implemented at the request of the Altadena Town Council.
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