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By Michael D. Carroll and Sophie Clark
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Military police from the California National Guard have been deployed to support anti-looting operations in response to the California wildfires, according to reports.
Osint Defender, an online open-source intelligence group, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Military police with the California National Guard arrived at Ontario International Airport earlier tonight, where they will begin assisting law enforcement on Friday with search-and-recovery as well as looting enforcement in the area of northern Los Angeles impacted by the Eaton fire."
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Why It Matters
The ongoing wildfires across Los Angeles County, the most populated county in America, have forced at least 180,000 people to leave their homes.
The Eaton fire in Altadena/Pasadena is still burning with zero percent containment, meaning evacuation orders are mandatory, with people having to leave their homes and many possessions behind.
A number of people have already been arrested for looting during the wildfire evacuations.
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What To Know
On Wednesday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced the arrest of two looters who had been caught allegedly trying to steal from a home in Los Angeles. Their identities and details of their alleged crimes have not yet been released.
Some Los Angeles residents have also expressed concerns about leaving their homes over fears of looting.
Allison Agsten, a LA resident, told local news station KTLA: "We just started seeing all these cars pull up, doors open, groups of men running up our street, going up to the doors of these houses."
Madisen Keavy, a reporter for KCAL, also said: "Our cameras saw three men on scooters immediately turn around when they saw police."
The California National guard arrived in Los Angeles at around 10pm on Thursday to serve alongside law enforcement.
As well as combatting looting, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is also investigating a suspect for allegedly starting one of the fires raging in the city.
The suspect is a homeless man in his 30s, according to Fox LA's Elex Michaelson.
The suspect was initially detained "by citizens" in the Woodland Hills neighborhood not long after the Kenneth fire started on Thursday, officer Charles Dinsel told NewsNation.
Newsweek has contacted the LAPD for comment.
What People Are Saying
Sheriff Robert Luna said on Wednesday: "If you are thinking about coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, I'm going to tell you something: You're going to be caught, you're going to be arrested and you're going to be prosecuted."
Governor Gavin Newsom said: "[The California National Guard] has arrived to Los Angeles to support local law enforcement. Taking advantage of evacuated communities is absolutely sick. Looting will not be tolerated."
What Happens Next
The wildfires are still burning with immense speed due to the Santa Ana winds and low humidity in Los Angeles.
Evacuation orders are still in place for Altadena residents and many Palisades residents.
It is unclear at the moment how long the National Guard and other military police will remain in Los Angeles.
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