At Least 20 Arrested on Looting Accusations During California Wildfires: 'Zero Tolerance'

At least 20 people have been arrested for alleged looting this week during the Los Angeles County wildfires.

“I promise you, you will be held accountable,” Los Angeles Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a press conference Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported. “Shame on those who are preying on our residents during this time of crisis.”

L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said that anyone found roaming around wildfire evacuation zones could face misdemeanor charges. Looters would face felony charges if caught.

“If you are in one of these areas and you do not belong there, you are going to be subject to arrest,” Luna said, per KTLA. “Our first choice isn’t to do enforcement. It’s not to make arrests. It’s to help people.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has “a lot of units out there,” sheriff spokesperson Alejandra Parra tells PEOPLE. “There is zero tolerance for looters.”

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Thousands of structures have been affected in what is already the most destructive firestorms in the city’s history. There have been multiple wildfires raging across Los Angeles County, including the monstrous Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas of L.A. County, as well as the Eaton Fire in Pasadena and Altadena.

Both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire are 0% contained.

There have been five confirmed deaths during the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County Fire Department chief Anthony C. Marrone confirmed in a news briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 8, according to the Associated Press.

Several people have reportedly also been injured, including at least one firefighter, a 25-year-old woman who “sustained a serious head injury around 8:30 p.m.” local time on Jan. 7, according to a post on X from Erik Scott, public information officer for the Los Angeles Fire Department. 

The firefighter “received immediate treatment at the scene” before being transported to a local hospital “for further evaluation,” added Scott.