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Sheriff: search operations continue; 2 additional deaths reported, tens of thousands remain evacuated
Summary
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna and law enforcement officials described search and rescue progress, reported two new deaths, missing-person counts and enforcement activity including arrests and curfews.
Robert Luna, sheriff of Los Angeles County, said personnel deployment ‘‘remains about the same’’ with roughly 1,300 deputies assigned across the Eaton and Palisades incidents and about 220 California Highway Patrol officers supporting the operations. Luna said the state has provided additional CHP officers and that more than 900 California National Guard personnel are assisting multiple agencies.
On arrests and curfews, Luna said the curfew remained in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and warned that people who refuse lawful orders to leave evacuation areas during the day may be subject to arrest under state law. The sheriff gave an arrest total of 47 across the incidents — 36 at the Eaton incident and 11 at the Palisades incident.
Luna reported that deaths increased by two — one in the Eaton area and one in the Palisades area — and that search operations continue. He said 43 missing‑person reports have been taken, of which 12 have been found safe; 31 remain active (24 in the Eaton area and 7 in the Palisades area). He cautioned that some grids are being held because officers believe there may be deceased victims and said recovery operations could take more than a week.
Jim McDonnell, introduced as chief of police for the Los Angeles Police Department in the briefing, said LAPD remained on tactical alert and was deploying approximately 600 officers to impacted areas, with support from airport and port police and the National Guard. McDonnell said LAPD had 38 reported missing in its count, with 30 found safe, 3 likely deceased and 5 remaining missing as of the morning update.
Why it matters: search and recovery drive the timing for repopulation and for investigators to process scenes. Law enforcement presence and curfews affect residents’ access to property and the pace at which families can locate missing relatives.
Ending: Officials said they are continuing searches and processing areas with care and asked the public to be patient while operations continue. For updates on evacuation orders, road closures and curfews, officials directed residents to lacounty.gov/emergency.
