Los Angeles wildfires: National Guard assists with firefighting, public safety efforts
LOS ANGELES - Thousands of California National Guard service members have been deployed to assist law enforcement amid the ongoing wildfires.
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a request from Los Angeles County officials to send about 8,000 personnel to bolster crime fighting and firefighting efforts.
"Thanks to the incredible work of our first responders and emergency personnel, we’re throwing everything at our disposal – including our National Guard servicemembers – to protect communities in the days to come. And to those who would seek to take advantage of evacuated communities, let me be clear: looting will not be tolerated," Newsom said in a statement.
Members of the National Guard block entrances along New York Drive in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, US, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Looting amid natural disaster
The move comes as law enforcement confirmed 20 arrests for looting in evacuation zones. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warned looters that patrols are being stepped up to prevent further criminal activity. "You will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Luna said during a press briefing.
Unfortunately, Luna said, he expects that number to rise.
Luna added that he is going to tell his deputies that if residents are told to evacuate their homes – and they don't – then they might face either a misdemeanor or felony.
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Curfew issued
Officials issued a curfew on Thursday evening which ended at 6 a.m. on Friday morning.
The curfew order was issued to all Palisades and Eaton Fire areas and all mandatory evacuation zones.
The curfew will be put back into effect beginning at 6 p.m. Friday evening, Luna said.
"You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest," Luna said on Friday. "We’re not doing this to inconvenience anybody, we’re doing it to protect the structures, the houses that people have left because we ordered them to leave and I want them to feel confident that we are doing everything we can to secure that."
The only people who will be allowed in these areas during curfew are disaster workers, Luna stressed, and this includes media.
Federal assistance and disaster declaration
President Joe Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for California, waiving cost-sharing requirements for 180 days. Federal support includes 400 firefighters, 30 aircraft, and hundreds of ground-clearing personnel.
"The damage is catastrophic," Biden said during a briefing. "Spare no expense in protecting Californians and their communities."