LOS ANGELES, CA – A second individual has been arrested for impersonating a firefighter in the evacuation zone of the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced Wednesday during a morning briefing. The arrest occurred overnight, marking the latest case of criminal activity in the wildfire-affected areas.
“Somebody else who was dressed like a fireman; he was not a fireman,” Luna said. “I have to give a lot of credit to our deputies for being proactive, stopping him, and arresting him.” Luna did not provide additional details regarding the suspect’s identity or motives.
This arrest follows another similar case reported over the weekend. In that incident, the suspect, also dressed as a firefighter, was apprehended while attempting to burglarize a home within the evacuation zone.
The arrests are part of an ongoing law enforcement crackdown as Southern California continues to battle multiple devastating wildfires. Sheriff Luna revealed that 44 fire-related arrests have been made since the fires began on January 7, with 36 of those connected to the Eaton Fire and eight to the Palisades Fire.
Among those arrested, 14 individuals face burglary charges, while others were detained for violations such as curfew breaches, trespassing, and drug or weapons possession. Law enforcement has also made arrests related to drone activity in the fire zones, which poses a significant risk to aerial firefighting operations. One high-profile incident involved a drone damaging one of the Canadian Super Scooper planes being used to combat the blazes.
In addition to the impersonation and burglary incidents, at least three people have been arrested in recent days on suspicion of attempting to ignite additional fires.
The Eaton Fire, burning north of Los Angeles, and the Palisades Fire, which devastated much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, both ignited on January 7. As of Wednesday, over 82,400 residents remained under mandatory evacuation orders, with an additional 90,000 under evacuation warnings as firefighters brace for worsening weather conditions, including high winds.
More than 90,000 households were also without power Wednesday morning as utility companies proactively shut off electricity to prevent power lines from sparking new fires.
A curfew remains in effect for the affected areas from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., aimed at deterring looters and maintaining public safety during the ongoing crisis. Sheriff Luna reiterated the department’s commitment to enforcing the curfew and emphasized the importance of public cooperation in ensuring the safety of first responders and residents.
With containment efforts ongoing and the region facing continued fire danger, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity within evacuation zones.
