Curfew Enforced in Fire Zones After Arrests for Looting
LOS ANGELES—A curfew has officially been implemented, prohibiting unauthorized individuals from entering areas subject to mandatory evacuation orders due to the ongoing Palisades and Eaton fires. County Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized that the curfew will be “strictly enforced.”
This curfew is effective every night from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning. According to Luna, anyone caught violating the curfew could face charges classified as a misdemeanor, which may include a fine of up to $1,000 and potential jail time.
The decision to enforce this measure comes after reports of 20 arrests for alleged looting within the fire-affected areas, an action that Luna condemned as “absolutely unacceptable” on Thursday.
“Anyone found in these impacted regions is subject to arrest,” Luna stated during a briefing on Friday morning. “This is not intended to inconvenience anyone; our aim is to safeguard the structures and homes that people have vacated due to our evacuation orders.”
The only individuals allowed entry into these affected areas will be “disaster workers,” while credentialed media personnel will also have access.
The sheriff reiterated that anyone arrested for breaching the curfew will not be cited and released.
Related Stories
“Anyone who disobeys will be booked,” Luna asserted. “We are serious about this.”
Members of the California National Guard were also deployed overnight to the Eaton Fire vicinity, with more Guard personnel expected to arrive within the next 12 to 24 hours. Some of these members may be assigned to the Palisades Fire area, while others could be sent to support cities like Santa Monica, Pasadena, Azusa, and Arcadia, all of which have requested Guard assistance.
According to the governor’s office, these Guard members “will be stationed at traffic control points to ensure community safety. Moreover, their presence enhances local law enforcement capacities to assist in their designated regions.”
District Attorney Nathan Hochman affirmed that individuals arrested for curfew breaches or any fire-related crimes will be prosecuted.
“If you choose to loot, commit burglary, or engage in grand theft… you will be arrested, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Hochman declared on Thursday. “These actions are reprehensible.”
