A man dressed as a firefighter was arrested in Malibu for allegedly burglarizing a home in an evacuation zone. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, the suspect was discovered sitting on the property and was found to be impersonating a firefighter.

The county has imposed a strict curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in evacuation areas, allowing only authorized personnel such as firefighters, utility workers, and law enforcement. Sheriff Luna confirmed, "He just got caught burglarizing a home." This arrest is part of a larger crackdown on crimes in areas affected by wildfires. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell reported that 29 individuals have been detained for curfew violations in the fire zones, some impersonating firefighters to exploit the chaos. Of these arrests, 25 occurred in Eaton Fire zones and four in Palisades Fire zones. Additional charges, including carrying concealed firearms and narcotics-related offenses, were involved in six of the arrests. The sheriff's department has bolstered its staffing to 1,200 personnel to patrol evacuation zones, assist with evacuations, and deter potential scammers targeting fire victims. With approximately 105,000 people still under evacuation orders as of January 12th, officials continue to urge residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity. The community’s safety remains the top priority as authorities work to restore order amidst the wildfire devastation.