Los Angeles County Fires Leave Devastating Trail
At least thirteen people remain unaccounted for in the wake of the destructive fires sweeping through Los Angeles County, which have claimed eleven lives so far.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna addressed the media on Saturday, stating that it is still unclear whether any of the missing individuals are among the eleven reported fatalities.
Sheriff Luna expressed his hope for a positive outcome, saying, “We hope to find everyone safe. We want to give closure to the families.”
Arrests and Detentions
During the fires, authorities have taken 22 individuals into custody, with 19 of them being in the area affected by the Eaton fire and the remaining three in the Palisades fire area.
According to Sheriff Luna, the detainees “were in areas where they should not be.” Two of the detainees were arrested for entering emergency locations without authorization and violating the curfew in effect from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time in Los Angeles.
The majority of the arrests are related to robberies and looting, including burglary, narcotics possession, and identity theft. One individual is also accused of possessing a firearm.
Fire Containment and Evacuations
The cause of the fires, which have burned over 14,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of more than 153,000 people, remains unknown. Sheriff Luna stated that all possibilities are being considered.
Firefighters have successfully contained the Lidia fire, while the Kenneth fire is 80% contained, the Hurst fire is 76% contained, the Eaton fire is 15% contained, and the Palisades fire is 11% contained.
The Palisades fire, the largest of the six active fires in Los Angeles County, continued to spread towards the residential neighborhoods of Brentwood and Encino, prompting evacuations in the area.
The fire was moving towards Brentwood, where multi-million dollar properties are located, including homes owned by celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bob Iger, and Lebron James.
The Los Angeles Fire Department issued an immediate evacuation order in much of Brentwood and areas of Encino due to a threat “to life.”
County spokesman Jesús Ruiz expressed concern about the fire’s movement, stating that it represents “significant progress” as it rapidly approaches a “highly populated” area.