California National Guard Deployed to LA to Secure Fire Areas

Hundreds of members of the California National Guard are being deployed in the Los Angeles area to assist with law enforcement duties Friday around the array of wildfires burning in the region.

National Guard troops are on duty Friday manning checkpoints at the Palisades Fire. They are in Santa Monica at 11th Street and Montana Avenue, according to media reports.

There are no media reports of their presence in Pasadena or Altadena as of this writing.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday roughly 400 members of the Guard would be stationed around the region to help with traffic control and to restrict entry into the fire zones. He announced earlier in the day that 20 people had been arrested on suspicion of looting in the various burn areas.

Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed late Thursday that he had approved the National Guard deployment.

“Thanks to the incredible work of our first responders and emergency personnel, we’re throwing everything at our disposal — including our National Guard servicemembers — to protect communities in the days to come,” Newsom said in a statement. “And to those who would seek to take advantage of evacuated communities, let me be clear: Looting will not be tolerated.”

According to the governor’s office, the Guard members “will be stationed at traffic control points to ensure the safety of the surrounding community. In addition, their support helps build capacity of local law enforcement to support their respective areas.”