Los Angeles Wildfires: Curfew Imposed to Halt Looting
In response to the devastating wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, California, U.S. authorities have implemented a curfew on Friday to safeguard properties left vacant due to the mandatory evacuations.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced during a press conference on Friday morning that the curfew will apply to the evacuation zones affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. This curfew is set to be in effect from 6:00 PM Friday to 6:00 AM Saturday local time (0200 GMT to 1400 GMT Saturday).
Luna stated, “You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest.” The curfew enables law enforcement to take action against potential looters who might exploit the deserted parts of the city.
He further elaborated, “We are doing this to protect the structures and homes that residents have vacated because we ordered them to leave.”
The wildfires have claimed at least ten lives in the greater Los Angeles area over the recent days.
Luna highlighted that “approximately 58,000 structures are at risk due to the fires.”
Additionally, evacuation orders have been issued to about 153,000 people in Los Angeles, with
another 166,000 receiving warnings to prepare for possible evacuation.
This response to the crisis underscores the severity of the situation in one of California’s densely
populated regions, emphasizing the need for both immediate safety measures and long-term
strategies to manage such natural calamities.
