As if firefighters and residents in Los Angeles didn't already have enough to deal with, along come meddling mischief makers who seem intent on making the unfolding disaster that much worse for area residents.

There have been many reports of looting taking place as people abandon their houses in search of safety. Local officials estimate that at least 20 people have been arrested over the last few days for helping themselves to possessions that were left behind as the wildfires approached. 

L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna warned wannabe burglars that the looting would not be tolerated.

“I’m going to make this crystal clear to everybody out there,” he said. “Over last night and this morning, we are up to 20 individuals who chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people, who have been through so much, of their property. Absolutely unacceptable.”

It is also suspected that individuals are contributing to the catastrophe by deliberately igniting fires. RedState's Sister Toldjah reported on one possible arsonist who was apprehended by locals after they spotted him with a blow torch, noting that although residents are on edge, they're also willing to step up when needed.

This is what folks coming together in a time of need and when first responder resources are stretched thin looks like. If all these fires were intentionally started and if this guy was indeed the person (or one of the people) responsible for them, then these residents have saved the day - and their city. At the very least, if the description of what went down before they nabbed him is correct, they saved their neighborhood.

The latest report of clueless interference from some locals involves the grounding of a Canadian "Super Scooper" aircraft, one of two on loan from our neighbors to the north, which is currently not being used to fight the devastating fires in Pacific Palisades because it collided Thursday with a civilian drone.

Two Super Scooper planes were deployed to help fight the fires.

One was hit by a drone and is now out of service.

Does the US not have firefighting planes?? Why do we have to get these planes from Canada? Why only 2?? pic.twitter.com/3iXAt64wAk

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 10, 2025

Here's a bit more on the incident and the fallout from the grounding of this important piece of firefighting machinery:

The specifically designed CL-415 firefighting planes are used to scoop up more than 1,500 gallons of ocean water to drop on active fires.

The plane in question, Quebec 1, “sustained wing damage and remains grounded and out of service,” Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said, adding that there were no reported injuries.

The damaged plane will be prioritized for repair and should be back up flying by Monday, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said Friday.

The collision caused the temporary grounding of all aircraft responding to the Palisades Fire, The War Zone reported, citing Cal Fire. It was one of the two such planes deployed to the site, The War Zone said.

RELATED:

John Stossel Already Debunked the Idea That Climate Change Caused the California Wildfires

NEW: LAFD Assistant Chief Made a DEI Video That Will Blow Your Mind and Have You Seeing Red

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said local officials would be working with their federal agency partners to start tracking all drones that enter the "fire areas" and promised to track down the operators. 

It's understandable that locals are interested in getting a birds-eye view of the damage done to their neighborhoods, and they certainly aren't getting the full story from their public officials, but let's hope civilian drone operators heed the threat from Hochman: “You will be arrested, you will be prosecuted, and you will be punished to the full extent of the law.”