 "Biden calls Los Angeles wildfires 'war scene', says 'clear evidence' of looting as nighttime curfew imposed")
US President Joe Biden on Friday described Los Angeles as resembling a “war scene” as several major wildfires swept through neighborhoods in the area.
He said there was “clear evidence” of looting amid the mayhem and slammed “demagogues” for spreading rampant misinformation about the devastating fires.
“It reminded me of more of a war scene, where you had certain targets that were bombarded,” AFP quoted Biden as saying as he received a briefing on the fires in the Oval Office of the White House.
“It’s almost like a battle scene,” he added.
Authorities have imposed a nighttime curfew in areas of Los Angeles affected by the fires due to concerns about looting. President Biden said the government is deploying security measures, ranging from military support to the National Guard.
“There’s clear evidence that there’s looting. There’s clear evidence that people are going into these survivors’ communities… and looting,” Biden was quoted as saying.
Biden also took a veiled swipe at incoming president Donald Trump, who has spread misinformation over the flames that has then been amplified on social media.
“You’re going to have a lot of demagogues out there trying to take advantage of it,” Biden said of the fires.
Earlier, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said a curfew order was in place for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas in all mandatory evacuation zones.
The curfew order is in effect between 6 pm and 6 am. The only people allowed in those areas are disaster workers, reported The Guardian.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest,” The Guardian quoted Luna as saying.
He said the curfew will be “strictly enforced” to enhance public safety, protect property and prevent burglaries or looting in the areas that residents have evacuated.
“Anyone found in violation of the curfew will be subject to arrest for a misdemeanor offense and conviction may result in a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time,” he added.
“We are not screwing around with this," Luna warned, adding, “We don’t want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimised.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Los Angeles police department chief Dominic Choi said an arrest was made late Thursday afternoon after residents reported seeing a person trying to light a fire in Woodland Hills.
That suspect was taken into custody and interviewed, he said.
Officers later determined there was not enough probably cause to arrest the person on arson or suspicion of arson, he said. The investigation is ongoing.
The Palisades fire, currently the largest of five active wildfires in Los Angeles County, is only 8% contained. Firefighters made overnight progress thanks to favorable weather conditions, but increasing wind gusts expected during the day could test existing containment lines. Red flag warnings remain in effect across the county until 6 pm PT today, reported The Guardian.
The Eaton fire, located north of Pasadena, has burned approximately 13,956 acres and is only 3% contained. Damage estimates suggest that between 4,000 and 5,000 structures may be affected. A total of 1,527 firefighting personnel have been deployed to combat the blaze, which moved closer to Mount Wilson on Thursday. Fortunately, the observatory remains unharmed, and no structures have been reported destroyed there, added the report.
Meanwhile, the Hurst fire, situated just south of Santa Clarita, has spread to 771 acres and is currently 37% contained.
In the San Fernando Valley, the Kenneth fire has burned 1,000 acres and is 35% contained. All evacuation orders and warnings related to this fire have been lifted.
The Lidia fire is making progress, with 75% containment reported. The causes of these fires are still under investigation.
As the situation evolves, the number of residents under evacuation orders has decreased to 153,000, with approximately 57,830 structures still considered at risk. An additional 166,800 residents remain under evacuation warnings.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
