National Guard Arrives to Help Deter Looters at Eaton Fire

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Upwards of 400 National Guard troops deployed in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire burn areas overnight as both blazes continue to eat away hillsides and communities.

National Guard troops were seen stationed at the Eaton Fire perimeter Thursday night providing traffic control and critical infrastructure protection so Sheriff’s deputies can patrol neighborhoods to stave off looters. 20 such looters have been arrested so far in both the Eaton and Palisades fires.

The Eaton Fire has grown, albeit slowly, to 13,690 acres. It is 3 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Five residents died and five firefighters were injured.

More than 7,000 structures may have been destroyed or damaged, according to damage assessment teams and aerial image overlays.

Air operations fighting the Palisades Fire lost an aircraft after one of two Canadian-leased Super Scooper planes struck a civilian drone illegally flying in a fire zone. The plane was landed safely, but one wing tip was punctured and needs repair.

Aircraft fighting the Eaton Fire worked mostly in the northeast perimeter near Chantry Flats above Arcadia where fire growth was seen.

Around 500 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies are assigned with protecting burn areas both in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire burn areas, guarding both means of ingress and egress, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

An additional 100 deputies from surrounding counties are being requested, Luna said.

County booking records show seven arrests were made since the Eaton Fire began:

Rudy Salazar, 19
Arrested January 8
Booked on suspicion of 2nd-degree burglary during a state of emergency

Lucia Perez, 41
Arrested January 8
Booked on suspicion of 2nd-degree burglary during a state of emergency

Roy Sims, 18
Arrested January 8
Booked on suspicion of grand theft during a state of emergency

Ryan Sims, 19
Arrested January 8
Booked on suspicion of grand theft during a state of emergency

Naquan Reddix, 22
Arrested January 8
Booked on suspicion of grand theft during a state of emergency

Pierie Obannon, 19
Arrested January 8
Booked on suspicion of 2nd-degree burglary during a state of emergency

Loren Howse, 34
Arrested January 9
Booked on suspicion of 2nd-degree burglary during a state of emergency

Critical fire weather concerns will continue across the LA Basin and SoCal through Friday morning. Santa Ana winds will begin to tapper off midday Friday and into Saturday. Continue to take precautions and avoid activities that could start fires, according to the National Weather Service.