LA Wildfire: 2 Fake Firefighters, 18 Others Arrested For Looting Evacuated Homes
Los Angeles police captain, Mike Lorenz, confirmed that at least 20 individuals, including two people impersonating firefighters, have been arrested for looting homes evacuated due to the ongoing wildfires in California.
“Looting is an issue, the number of arrests is continuously growing. We even made arrests of two individuals who were actually posing as firefighters coming in and out of houses,” Captain Lorenz stated.
The arrests come as California’s devastating wildfires continue to wreak havoc, with the death toll rising to 16. Among the victims was former British child star Rory Callum Sykes, best known for his appearance on the TV show Kiddie Kapers in the 1990s. Sykes, aged 32, tragically passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning at his family estate in Malibu on Wednesday.
Sykes’ mother, Shelley Sykes, recounted her desperate efforts to save her son, who was born with cerebral palsy. She attempted to extinguish the flames engulfing his cottage, but discovered that their water supply had been cut off. In a harrowing moment, she rushed to seek help from local firefighters, only to return and find the cottage destroyed. “He said, ‘Mom leave me’ and no mom can leave their kid. And I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him,” Ms. Sykes shared through tears.
The two largest wildfires in Los Angeles, the Eaton and Palisades fires, have not been fully contained, continuing to pose a significant threat. As of Sunday morning, the Palisades fire, which has scorched more than 23,000 acres, was still only 11% contained, the same containment level reported the previous day by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The fires have caused widespread devastation, with officials struggling to contain the blazes, while authorities remain vigilant about potential looting in the evacuated areas. The ongoing crisis has also led to growing concerns about safety and the impact on local communities.
