A man dressed as a firefighter has been arrested by officers during the devastating wildfires in Malibu, Los Angeles, USA, Fox News reported.
Speaking at a press conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
He said that he was also tricked into thinking the man was a firefighter.
“I was in Malibu, and I saw a man dressed as a firefighter. I asked him if he was okay because he was sitting down. I didn’t realize he wasn’t legitimate until I saw the officers handcuffing him,” Luna told reporters.
According to Luna, at least 29 people have been arrested in connection with the Los Angeles area fires. One person was arrested Saturday night for violating the city’s curfew, and three others were arrested in connection with a reported theft.
Police warned that a curfew, which is in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time, will continue from Sunday night through Monday.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the Los Angeles wildfires has risen to 24. Eight of the fatalities were in the Palisades area, and 16 in the Eaton Fire area.
As wildfires threaten homes in Los Angeles’ most exclusive neighborhoods, the state’s wealthy are reportedly turning to private firefighting services to protect their properties.
These luxury services come at a steep price. With public fire departments overwhelmed, some of the city’s wealthy residents are reportedly paying up to $2,000 an hour for private firefighters to safeguard their homes.
