After several arrests of individuals in recent weeks who authorities say were impersonating firefightersofficials now say two more people have been detained for pretending to be members of the media to enter the fire zone.
Authorities say the two suspects allegedly forged press passes to illegally enter the Palisades Fire evacuation zone.
Officers deployed to road closures due to the Palisades fire came into contact with “two suspicious individuals” who were at separate roadblocks, the California Highway Patrol said in a statement Sunday.
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The CHP arrested two people accused of using forged press passes to illegally enter a fire evacuation zone. (Facebook/California Highway Patrol)
“These individuals came and went from locked rooms while using what appeared to be press passes from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office (LASD) and their behavior raised suspicion“, the press release continues.
California Highway Patrol confirmed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that both press passes were fake, and both pass holders were arrested.
A search of their belongings revealed several fake press passes.
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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said two people from Oregon were arrested for impersonating firefighters near the Palisades fire. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department/AP Photo/Jae C. Hong/AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File)
The latest arrests follow several other arrests in recent weeks of individuals accused of attempting to enter fire zones using fraud.
An Oregon couple was arrested Saturday for allegedly pretending to be a fireman after they tried to enter the evacuation zone with a fake fire truck.
A burglary suspect disguised as a firefighter was arrested last week, Los Angeles police previously confirmed to Fox News Digital.
A California Department of Corrections hand crew works on containment lines before the Palisades Fire on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Santa Monica, California. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
“These arrests underscore the strength of our partnership with LASD as we work together to secure and protect communities affected by wildfires,” the CHP said in the latest statement.
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“Criminal activities such as illegal entry into evacuation zones, forgery of press passes and looting will not be tolerated.”
