LOS ANGELES, CA – As wildfires continue to ravage parts of Los Angeles County, defiant homeowners in the fire-scorched Altadena community are taking up arms and patrolling their neighborhoods to ward off looters, despite mandatory evacuation orders.
Authorities have arrested at least a dozen suspects for looting and arson in the fire zones, prompting local prosecutors to push for harsher penalties for those exploiting the disaster. Residents, however, say that law enforcement alone cannot secure their properties, and some have chosen to remain behind to protect their homes.
Mike Leroy and Billy Theodorakopoulos are among those who refused to evacuate. Initially, they stayed to defend their homes from the encroaching flames, using garden hoses to keep their rooftops and yards wet. They even fought off a garage fire that had spread to a car’s gas tank before firefighters arrived to assist briefly. When the firefighters moved on to other emergencies, the pair turned their focus to protecting their neighborhood from looters.
“We had one incident, early on,” Leroy said. “But nothing afterwards. We’ve been seeing a lot of patrol, especially the past few nights.”
He and Theodorakopoulos, along with a handful of neighbors, have organized makeshift patrols, taking shifts to monitor their three-block radius. Without power, they’ve also set up a temporary camp complete with a solar-powered shower.
Theodorakopoulos’ wife, Maggie, said the tight-knit group has taken the situation in stride, even joking about their new reality. “Now I’ve renamed it ‘Texadena,’ since we’re all walking around with our guns and stuff,” she said.
But the group is feeling the strain. “We need the neighbors to come home so that we can take a break,” Theodorakopoulos said. “And No. 2, we need more vigilance… There’s only six of us in a three-block radius to cover all this, and there’s a lot more territory here.”
Earlier reports revealed that some armed homeowners in closed-off communities have taken matters further, questioning strangers they encounter to determine whether they belong in the area.
The wildfires, which have been burning for over a week, have claimed at least 24 lives. Officials fear the death toll will rise as search and rescue teams continue their work. Adding to the challenges are the looters and arsonists targeting abandoned homes, further complicating efforts by emergency responders.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has reiterated that evacuation orders are mandatory and that those who ignore them do so at their own risk. Evacuation warnings, which remain in place for some areas, are advisory but strongly encourage residents to pack essential belongings, prepare to move quickly, and ensure their pets and important documents are ready to go.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, urging residents to prioritize their safety while also acknowledging the frustrations of those who feel compelled to protect what remains of their communities.
