THAT’S TOMORROW, AT 7:30 P.M., ON KCRA. ANDREA: HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN SOUTHERNAL CIFORNIA, AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY IN STUDIO CITY, AFTER A CHP OFFICER WAS SH.OT IT HAPPED NETONIGHT RIDUNG A TRAFFIC STOP ON LAUREL CANYON BOULEVARD, JUST OFF THE 101 FREEWAY. AUTHORITIES TELL US THE OFFICER WAS RUSHED TO E HOTHSPITALN I CRITICAL CONDITION. NO OTHER DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED. WE WILCOL NINTUE TO MONITOR THIS STORY AND BRING YOU UPDATES AS THEY BECOME AVAI
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California Freeway Patrol officer shot throughout site visitors cease
Up to date: 10:21 PM PDT Jun 13, 2022
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A California Freeway Patrol officer was shot and critically wounded Monday night time and the attacker was being sought, authorities stated.The officer was shot shortly earlier than 8 p.m. within the Studio Metropolis space after stopping a automotive and was taken to a hospital, authorities stated.The suspect drove off however at a Van Nuys house advanced, CHP and Los Angeles cops discovered a automotive matching the outline of the one seen earlier than the capturing, authorities stated.Different particulars weren’t instantly launched.
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LOS ANGELES —
A California Freeway Patrol officer was shot and critically wounded Monday night time and the attacker was being sought, authorities stated.
The officer was shot shortly earlier than 8 p.m. within the Studio Metropolis space after stopping a automotive and was taken to a hospital, authorities stated.
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The suspect drove off however at a Van Nuys house advanced, CHP and Los Angeles cops discovered a automotive matching the outline of the one seen earlier than the capturing, authorities stated.
Nearly 1,000 incarcerated men and women have joined the frontlines in a battle against record-breaking wildfires burning across southern California.
The number deployed – now 939 – are part of a long-running volunteer programme led by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Their numbers have steadily increased since Tuesday, the day the deadly fires began spreading uncontrollably through Los Angeles.
Over 10,000 structures have been destroyed and 37,000 acres burned, as thousands of emergency workers descend on the Los Angeles area to fight the flames.
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At least 11 people have been killed in the wildfires, officials said.
The incarcerated firefighters have been drawn from among the 35 conservation fire camps run by the state, minimum-security facilities where inmates serve their time and receive training. Two of the camps are for incarcerated women.
The 900-plus incarcerated firefighters in use account for roughly half of the 1,870 prisoner-firefighters in the scheme.
In the field, they can be seen in prison-orange jumpsuits embedded alongside members of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The incarcerated firefighters have been working “around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread”, CDCR told the BBC in an emailed statement.
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The programme, which dates back to 1946, has divided critics, who see it as exploitative, and supporters, who say it is rehabilitative.
The state pays inmates a daily wage between $5.80 and $10.24 (£4.75 and £8.38), and an additional $1 per day when assigned to active emergencies.
Those wages are a fraction of the salaries received by citizen firefighters in California, who can earn upwards of $100,000 annually.
“You’re getting pennies compared to the other folks that’s alongside of you. You’re just cheap labour,” Royal Ramey, a former incarcerated firefighter and co-founder of the non-profit Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP), told the BBC.
“And if you do pass away while fighting fires, you don’t get any benefits from that,” he continued.
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“You’re not gonna get no award. You’re not gonna be recognised as a wildland firefighter,” he said, adding that he would remember in the field that he had already signed his own death certificate.
Still, Mr Ramey said the low pay is more than a California prisoner would otherwise earn performing jobs in the state penitentiaries.
The conservation camps and their “park, picnic-type feel” also offer additional perks like better food, he said, compared to California’s notoriously dangerous and overcrowded prisons.
“It’s a better living situation, definitely,” he said.
Camp participants can also earn time credits that help reduce their prison sentences, CDRC said.
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Inmates convicted of crimes categorised as “serious” or “violent” felonies are not eligible to participate.
After incarcerated firefighters are released from prison – having been trained by the state – many try to get hired as citizen firefighters, but are denied, Mr Ramey said.
“There’s a stigma to it. When people think of firefighters they think of some clean-cut guy, a hero, not someone who’s been locked up,” he said.
He launched his nonprofit to help formerly incarcerated firefighters overcome the barriers and help fill the firefighter shortage California has faced for years.
There are currently five wildfires burning through billions of dollars worth of structures in the Los Angeles area, predicted to be one of the most expensive in history.
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Strained for resources, the state has called on over 7,500 emergency personnel and first responders, including the state and National Guard and firefighters from as far away as Canada.
The fires have still been difficult to contain and continue to spread, with 35,000 acres from the two largest fires, Palisades and Eaton, already burned.
Curfew order issued for Palisades and Eaton Fire evacuation zones
A curfew order has been established for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas in all mandatory evacuation zones, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said.
The curfew order is in effect between 6pm and 6am. The only people allowed in those areas are disaster workers.
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“You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest,” Luna warned.
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 said.
“We are not screwing around with this,” Luna warned. “ We don’t want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimized.”
Key events
Summary of the day so far
Here are the key takeaways from the latest news conference by Los Angeles city and county officials on the wildfires.
A curfew order is in place between 6pm and 6am on all mandatory evacuation zones in the Palisades and Eaton areas. “You can’t not be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest,” LA sheriff Robert Luna said. The curfew’s purpose is to enhance public safety, protect property, and prevent any burglaries or looting in areas evacuated by residents, Luna said.
The Palisades fire, the largest of the five fires, currently stands at 8% contained. Firefighters were able to make overnight progress on the fire due to “favorable” overnight weather conditions. Wind gusts are expected to increase in daylight hours that will test containment lines. Red flag warnings continue in Los Angeles county through 6pm PT today.
The Eaton fire, north of Pasadena, has burned 13,956 acres and is 3% contained. About 4,000 to 5,000 structures may be damaged and destroyed by the fire, and 1,527 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the fire. The blaze pushed toward Mount Wilson on Thursday, but the observatory is “OK” and no buildings have been destroyed there.
The Hurst fire, just south of Santa Clarita, has spread to 771 acres and is 37% contained.
The Kenneth fire, in the San Fernando valley, has burned 1,000 acres and is 35% contained. All evacuation orders and warnings in LA county for the Kenneth fire have been lifted.
The Lidia fire is 75% contained. The causes of the fires are still under investigation.
The number of residents under evacuation orders have dipped to 153,000. Approximately 57,830 structures are deemed to be at risk. An additional 166,800 residents are under evacuation warnings.
A super scooper aircraft that was damaged by a drone flown by a civilian should be back in the air by Monday. “Flying a drone in the fire traffic area is not only dangerous but it’s illegal,” Los Angeles county fire chief Anthony Perron said, adding that those who fly them over the wildfire area will be prosecuted.
A man arrested on suspicion of attempting to light a fire in Woodland Hills yesterday will not be charged. Officers found there was not enough probable cause to arrest the person, Los Angeles police department assistant chief Dominic Choi said.
Officials apologized after evacuation order alerts were mistakenly sent on Thursday afternoon and again on Friday. LA county office of emergency management director Kevin McGowan said he could not “express how sorry I am” but implored residents not to disable the messages on their phones, adding: “Not receiving an alert can be a consequence of life and death.”
Airbnb said it has expanded its housing support to an additional 25,000 people who have been impacted by the fires.
The company partnered with 211 LA, a hub for local community members and organizations, earlier this week to offer free, temporary housing to individuals and families who lost their homes or were forced to evacuate.
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It said 6,500 people have already been offered access to emergency housing with Airbnb hosts, but that thousands more are still displaced.
“The situation is devastating, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to support the Los Angeles community,” it said in a statement.
An Altadena resident has described returning to her home to find it destroyed in the fire.
In a video posted by NewsNation’s Brian Entin, Fran said she “poured everything” into the house that she has lived with her husband and family for 26 years.
“We have nowhere to go,” she said.
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Pointing to the other destroyed houses on the street, she said her neighbors had sent their children – now in their 40s – to kindergarten together.
LA county fire chief Anthony Perrone said one of the county’s two super scooper aircraft had been taken out of commission for emergency repairs, after being damaged in a drone incursion at the Palisades fire on Thursday.
The aircraft should be back in the air by Monday, he said.
“Flying a drone in the fire traffic area is not only dangerous but it’s illegal,” he said, adding that those who fly them over the wildfire area will be prosecuted.
The LA county fire department earlier said that a SuperScooper Quebec 1, an aircraft specifically used for aerial firefighting, was grounded on Thursday after it was struck by a drone flown by a civilian.
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The collision caused wing damage to the aircraft, though no injuries were reported.
California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara said he had used his moratorium power to stop all non-renewals and cancellations by insurance companies for a year.
“My primary concern at this very moment is to ensure that wildfire survivors receive the insurance benefits to which they are entitled to as soon as possible,” he said.
“Now is the time for you to focus on your family and on your health. The last thing you should be worrying about is your insurance.”
He said legislation will be introduced to include businesses in the moratorium.
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LA county district attorney Nathan Hochman said anyone who is determined to be intentionally setting fires will be arrested for arson, prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.
Anyone who violates the curfew order will be arrested and prosecuted, he said.
He described looting as a “despicable crime”. “For the people who have already been arrested, please know this is not going to end well,” he said.
He also warned anyone who is thinking of sending a drone up in the area that “you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law.”
On the subject of scams, he said his team had already begun seeing people being targeted in GoFundMe scams, and warned that there will be insurance and government benefit scams targeting people who have been affected by the fires.
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“My message to the public is: Beware these scammers. Do not let them take advantage of you,” he said.
More than 200 officers have been deployed to maintain law and order in areas impacted by the fires, assistant Los Angeles police department chief Dominic Choi said.
He said there was a “zero tolerance” policy towards those who are taking advantage of the situation.
“Anybody caught looting or committing crimes in the affected areas will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
One person arrested for suspected looting, says LAPD chief
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.
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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.
Curfew order issued for Palisades and Eaton Fire evacuation zones
A curfew order has been established for the Palisades and Eaton fire areas in all mandatory evacuation zones, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said.
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The curfew order is in effect between 6pm and 6am. The only people allowed in those areas are disaster workers.
“You cannot be in these affected areas. If you are, you are subject to arrest,” Luna warned.
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 said.
“We are not screwing around with this,” Luna warned. “ We don’t want anyone taking advantage of our residents that have already been victimized.”
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More than 150,000 LA County residents remain under evacuation orders
Approximately 153,000 residents are currently under evacuation orders and another 166,800 residents are under evacuation warnings, LA county sheriff Robert Luna said.
About 57,830 structures are at risk, he said.
The Hurst fire has been updated to 771 acres and is at 37% containment, LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said.
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All evacuation orders and warnings for the fire have been lifted, she said.
The Kenneth fire’s forward progress has also been stopped with 35% contained, she said.
All evacuation orders and warnings within the Los Angeles city have been lifted, she said.
Palisades fire stands at more than 20,000 acres and is 8% contained
LA city fire chief Kristin Crowley said the Palisades fire stands at 20,438 acres with 8% containment.
More than 3,000 personnel worked overnight to strengthen containment lines and addressed multiple spot fires in and around the Topanga Canyon area, she said.
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Wind gusts are expected to increase in daylight hours that will test containment lines, she said.
Kenneth fire has been stopped, says official
The Kenneth fire, which erupted on Thursday at the border of the Ventura and Los Angeles counties, has been stopped, LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said.
The fire is currently at 1,000 acres and 35% containment, he said.
The National Weather Service has predicted that the Red Flag warning will continue through Friday or through 6pm, LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said.
He noted that his team’s priority is to prepare for the next Red Flag event that is predicted to begin on Monday.
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said the Eaton fire made a push on Thursday afternoon toward the historic Mount Wilson.
The observatory is OK and no buildings have been destroyed at Mount Wilson, he said.
However a firefighter did suffer a “significant fall injury” at the Eaton fire and remains hospitalized.
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The cause of the Eaton fire remains unknown, Marrone said.
Eaton fire stands at nearly 14,000 acres and is 3% contained
LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone said the Eaton fire has burned 13,956 acres and is at 3% containment.
Between 4,000 and 5,000 structures are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed due to the fire, he said.
More than 1,500 firefighting personnel have been assigned to the Eaton fire, he said.
LA county supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the fires have continued to have an impact on the air quality throughout the region.
A smoke advisory has been extended through Friday to limit exposure, she said.
“Please remain indoors as much as possible. Avoid outdoor physical activity and run your air conditioner or air purifier if you have one.”
Southern California homes and businesses are still ablaze tonight and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
Celebrities are taking to social media to express their disappointment at the loss of their homes and flashy cars, but one family in Altadena is mourning the loss of something much more.
In an interview with FOX 11 LA, 6-year-old Henry, of Altadena, stands next to his mother and brother. In the background, you can see the mangled siding and bricks of what looks like a former home, along with the burnt wreckage of many other homes that were lost.
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A little boy from Altadena stands next to his mother and brother amid the aftermath of devastating wildfires. (Fox News Digital)
Henry seems to keep his composure as he recounts the frightening moments leading up to the loss of his home – all while clutching the only two things he has left in this world.
“And then – the power went out … and then we were going to get our dad, but he was coming. Then we had power, flashlights, they’re so good, and I went and they woke us up, me and my brother. And then we left our house,” said Henry.
He said items in the house were burned, including his prized 3D printer.
“It was so special to me and it’s going to make me a little sad, but, I don’t know why, but this is what happened to our house,” Henry said. “And a lot of stuff that I love is gone. And now, and everything is broken, and it’s all lost its color and stuff. And these are the only things that I have.”
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A little boy from Altadena stands next to his mother and brother, recounting everything lost in the wildfire that destroyed their home.(Fox News Digital )
In the interview, Henry, who is visibly disappointed, shows the reporter the remnants of his parents’ bicycles and says that he wanted to come to the site of his former home to confirm what was broken and see what was left.
“I wanted to check on it and see if it was not broken and my dad took a video that it was broken,” he said. “We went here for today, so we know what happened and that was our chimney where Santa comes and now it’s gone. Now we can’t get presents here anymore.”
This is the case for thousands as the wildfires continue to rage throughout the area.
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Henry’s mother took to social media to express that she was mentally drained by the disaster as the family attempted to piece back their life. She said the brand-new 3D printer mentioned in her son’s interview was one they had waited for over a year to receive.
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She pointed out how quickly the fire happened, saying it was so fast, but she didn’t think much about it until it grew, fueled by the wind.
The burnt remnants of homes in Altadena, California, following raging wildfires plaguing the area.(Fox News Digital )
“It all happened so fast. We thought there would be time to return, to save more of our belongings, but within less than just five hours, the entire neighborhood was consumed. We grabbed our kids, our two dogs, and left with what little we could carry,” her post said.
“We were blessed to find a hotel in DTLA where we’ve been since Wed morning. While we are grateful to be safe, the pain of losing everything is overwhelming. People often say, ‘What matters most is that you’re alive.’ While that is true, it doesn’t take away the heartbreak of loss.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the family for comment but, understandably, they have a lot to do as they rebuild what they worked so hard for.
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The Eaton Fire, burning in the Pasadena-Altadena area, is one of several fires ravaging Los Angeles County.
A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California, on Jan. 8, 2025.(JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Nearly 30,000 acres have been impacted by the fires and nearly 15,000 houses and buildings are at risk as of Thursday – up from 13,000 as of Wednesday morning. Firefighters have struggled to contain the wildfires, which are being driven by strong Santa Ana winds.