Los Angeles Digest 🧢 #49

(#AI_free)

JUST IN: These are the Los Angeles Unified School District schools that are in an evacuation area and will remain CLOSED. The district said those schools will reopen as soon as conditions allow.

Details: https://abc7.la/3DTBiOz

NEW: Per ICE sources, the man seen in a viral video being subdued by residents & arrested by police w/ a blowtorch near the Kenneth Fire in West Hills is an illegal alien from Mexico named Juan Manuel Sierra-Leyva. He is in custody on a probation violation & has NOT been charged w/ arson. I'm told ICE will place a detainer request on him with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, but they do not expect it to be honored due to California's Sanctuary State law. I'm told Sierra-Leyva will have a court appearance tomorrow. Again - he has not been charged w/ arson and is in custody only on a probation violation at the moment, as multiple agencies have been interviewing him.

Bill Melugin

Current Map of the Eaton Fire

LA Scanner

NEW PHOTO: A burglary suspect was arrested inside the Palisades Fire zone Saturday while dressed as a firefighter. So far, 29 people have been arrested for looting in evacuated areas of LA County.

Former FBI Director Wray: “The Chinese government is prepositioning on American civilian critical infrastructure to lie in wait on those networks to be in a position to wreak havoc & inflict real world harm at a time & place of their choosing.”

Maryland: "It is with profound sadness and very heavy hearts that we share the untimely passing of Firefighter Christopher Higgins, a career Montgomery County Firefighter as well as a Volunteer Firefighter with Anne Arundel County, Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company in Severna Park," the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said in a statement. "Chris made the ultimate sacrifice last night, January 11, 2025 while responding to a fire in Prince George's County."

Christopher Higgins, a veteran Maryland firefighter who died in the line of duty Saturday evening, started at a volunteer fire company in Anne Arundel County.

The 46-year-old firefighter, Christopher Higgins, was assisting at a house fire in Laurel when he collapsed and was rushed to White Oak Medical Center in Silver Spring. Outside the hospital, the fire chief confirmed that Higgins, a 22-year veteran of the Montgomery County Fire Department, died in the line of duty.


https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-firefighter-earleigh-volunteer-montgomery-death/

Rest In Peace, Hero 💔🖤

🚨 Arson Arrest🚨 

On Sunday, January 12, 2025 at approximately 12:30 PM, Los Angeles County Fire Department Engine #29 responded to a small brush fire near Rivergrade Road and the 605 Freeway. While on scene, LACOFD personnel observed a suspect actively lighting fires in the area. 

Responding Irwindale Police officers were directed to the suspect, identified as Ruben Montes, a 29-year-old resident of Baldwin Park. He was detained and subsequently arrested for arson. 

We thank our partners at LACOFD for their quick actions and teamwork to help bring this dangerous situation under control.

Irwindale Police Department

Video: LaPuente626sgv

Illinois: From the people who brought you last year’s hit phrase “justice-impacted individuals” comes an exciting new term for 2025!

Legislation passed last week will change the word “prostitute” in state laws to “person engaged in the sex trade.”

Read more: https://cwbchicago.com/2025/01/illinois-expected-to-change-the-word-prostitute-to-person-engaged-in-the-sex-trade-in-state-laws.html

Silver Alert - Santa Clara and San Francisco Counties.
Last seen: Iris Avenue and S Fair Oaks Avenue, Sunnyvale
@sunnyvalepd

IF SEEN, CALL 9-1-1

Before Taking Office, L.A.’s Mayor Said She Would Not Go Abroad

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/us/karen-bass-ghana-wildfire-travel-los-angeles.html

NEW: The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) recently released the identities of nearly a dozen attempted burglary suspects within Palisades Fire evacuation zones in Santa Monica, none of whom live in the town, police said.

Six of the 10 suspects were in possession of "burglary tools," according to officials. All traveled to the disaster area from out of town.

The department has arrested 39 people in evacuation zones since the start of the Palisades Fire.

Read more: https://trib.al/gvvEAD4

SNOW DAY FOR THIS DEPUTY!

Tennessee: A Blount County Sheriff's Office Deputy taking some time to enjoy the snow. ❄️☃️

As firefighters continue to battle multiple wildfires in Southern California, we are making progress toward containment.
Here is a summary of the major fires burning in Southern California, including the #PalisadesFireand #EatonFire #LAFires

CAL FIRE

Silver Alert - Orange County
Last seen: Valley View Street and Belgrave Avenue, Garden Grove
@GardenGrovePD

IF SEEN, CALL 9-1-1

DEVELOPING! Massive coronal hole spanning 1/4 of the Sun's circumference opens, enabling unusually fast solar winds to race toward Earth.

The enhanced solar storm will impact Earth in the coming hours.

Details: sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/

🔥Incident Updates (1/12/2025 PM)
#EatonFire
* North Pasadena and Altadena  (LA County)
* 14,117 acres, 27% contained
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/eaton-fire
#PalisadesFire

* Pacific Palisades (LA County)
* 23,713 acres, 13% contained
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/palisades-fire
#HurstFire (FINAL)
* Sylmar Area (LA County)
* 799 acres. 89% contained
* All CAL FIRE resources released
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/7/hurst-fire
For the most up-to-date emergency information and evacuation updates, please visit: http://www.fire.ca.gov
A #RedFlagWarning remains in effect for several counties within Southern California.

CAL FIRE

Where’s the news coverage on this?

Tustin, California: Gang of thieves broke into a California military base and made off with three Humvees and a bundle of equipment which included machine gun mounts.

The Tustin Police Department said that the unknown suspects broke into the Army Reserve Center in the Orange County city on Wednesday.

Officials say that the brazen robbers made off with three Humvees, one of which was armored, 8 machine gun mounts, tripods, medical equipment, 40 pairs of binoculars and 18 bayonets.

Two soft Humvees were recovered in Santa Ana and Orange on 01/11/25. One armored Humvee and all equipment are still outstanding.

🚨 Are the weapons probably on their way to D.C. for President Trump's upcoming inauguration?

5 years🪽

Your memory lives on through our department. There’s multiple memorial walls dedicated to your service and your ultimate sacrifice. We miss you, we have it from here.

Detective Amber J. Leist
EOW January 20, 2020

On January 12, 2020, Detective Amber Leist was in her car waiting at a red light in a busy intersection located in the city of North Hollywood. She observed an elderly couple crossing the street in the crosswalk. She then saw the elderly woman fall to the ground. Without hesitation, Detective Leist exited her vehicle to help the elderly woman up and assisted the couple safely to the sidewalk. As Detective Leist returned to her vehicle, she was fatally struck by another vehicle. Detective Leist was a 12-year veteran who was assigned to the West Hollywood Station. Detective Leist demonstrated unwavering courage, empathy, and brave exemplary heroic qualities 100% of the time. Detective Leist leaves a great void behind and is loved and is missed by so many.