Three major blazes continue to devastate Los Angeles, with the Palisades Fire having already burnt more than 23,000 acres, the BBC reported on Tuesday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced “urgent preparations” were underway as high winds were expected to peak on Tuesday, complicating firefighting efforts.
At least 24 people have been confirmed dead, and 23 others remain missing in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones, the British broadcaster said.
The crisis has prompted authorities to take swift action, with nine individuals arrested for looting and one for arson.
At a press conference, LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman showed videos of looting incidents and warned the accused could face maximum sentences if convicted.
Under California’s “three strikes” law, repeat offenders could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a third conviction.
Meanwhile, two lawsuits were filed against Southern California Edison (SCE) by property owners who lost their homes in the Eaton fire.
The plaintiffs claim the company failed to de-energise its electrical equipment despite warnings of high winds, potentially contributing to the fire’s spread.
A spokesperson for SCE stated the company had not yet received the complaint but would review it once it was served. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“The Palisades Fire has been a traumatic event for its victims, who through no fault of their own, went from homeowners to homeless in a matter of hours,” the complaint said, according to Reuters.
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