LA cops rush to ‘burglary’ at Kamala Harris’ Brentwood home as fires spark looting chaos: Live updates

Two men were arrested near Vice President Kamala Harris’ Brentwood home on Saturday.

LAPD was called to the scene around 4:30 a.m. but were not on the property when they were detained.

Law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles, ‘they likely had no idea where they were.’

The two men were detained for breaking curfew, but released after police found no evidence they were committing a crime, reported KTLA.

Hollywood’s elite are fleeing their homes as the Los Angeles wildfires rage on – with celebrities racing to find refuge in hotels costing thousands of pounds per night.

And actors Dennis Quaid and Sarah Michelle Gellar are among those seen arriving at the Hotel Bel-Air, built in 1922 and which charges up to $15,000 per night for a room.

The effects of the Los Angeles fire disaster will be long-lasting and thousands of people have lost everything or been displaced.

Help for those who have lost their homes to the huge infernos is coming from around the world while many were forced to flee and are still unclear on when they can return.

But charities and government-run relief efforts are overwhelmed by donations of items they don’t need or don’t have the resources to sift through.

Thieves are also preying on kind-hearted people with convincing scams that won’t send a dollar to anyone in need.

A man who served 30 years in the Army said the LA fires have turn the town into a warzone.

‘It was difficult, I mean it’s like Afghanistan type difficult,’ Jim Cragg told NBC News.

‘Everyone up here is doing a great job. I’ve been talking with LAPD, LA fire. They’re doing everything they can, but it’s a war zone.’

Cragg said he was able to save his home by placing a cheap lawn sprinkler on his roof.

‘After the last brush fire got close to us a couple years ago, I bought these cheap sprinklers, the ones that wave back and forth, and bought hoses,’ he said.

‘I had them ready, popped up on my roof, turned them on, sprayed down fire retardent on the side of my house and I left, got out with my family.’

Governor Gavin Newsom was slammed for his over-the-top body language in an interview he gave to NBC’s Meet The Press about his response to the raging wildfires in Los Angeles.

Newsom, wearing a black button down untucked with a pair of jeans, spoke with his hands all throughout the 18-minute-long conversation that took place in Altadena, a community that’s been ravaged by the Eaton Fire. He often clapped and made other big gesticulations as he answered questions.

Newsom also denied he was playing the blame game by opening an independent investigation into why the reservoirs were empty.

‘How could it be when we’re doing an independent investigation and we just want the adjudication of the facts? As I say, it’s not about finger pointing. It’s about answering the questions you and everybody want answered,’ he said.

The Duchess of Sussex ‘s Suit co-star Abigail Spencer has hailed Meghan’s support for Los Angeles fire victims as ‘excellent’.

Abigail, 43, who starred in Suits alongside Meghan Markle, also 43, and is due to appear in her upcoming Netflix series, With Love Meghan, took to social media to praise Archewell’s post supporting victims of the devastating LA fires.

Abigail shared the post to her Instagram, writing: ‘Excellent vetted resources for those looking to help’.

Palm trees can be seen in several photos still upright amid the burning wrecks of homes and cars.

One user, pointing to the destruction of homes and cars, that that an apparent ‘heat attack’ had targeted the livelihoods of Californians.

These ‘attacks’ are, according to conspiracy theorists, designed to facilitate the eradication of national identities and form a one-world government.

But in reality, trees are often able to survive wildfires thanks to adaptations like thick bark and high moisture content that protect them from the heat.

Palm trees in particular are often safe from fires, as often fires occur at ground level – far from a tree’s canopy.

Celebrity realtor Oppenheim, 47, best known for his regular appearances on Netflix reality show Selling Sunset, has lashed out at local landlords for overlooking state laws that prohibit people taking advantage of a natural disaster.

Appearing remotely on BBC politics show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, a visibly emotional Oppenheim said: ‘I think it should be exposed, but we’re having landlords taking advantage of the situation.

‘I had a client. We sent him to a house that was asking $13,000 a month. He offered $20,000 a month, and he offered to pay six months up front. And the landlord said: “No, I want $23,000 a month.”‘

He added: ‘There are price gouging laws in California. They’re just being ignored right now, and this isn’t the time to be taking advantage of situations, and it’s also illegal to take advantage of a natural disaster.

‘I researched the law last night. You cannot charge more than 10% pre-disaster market rates.’

Mountain lions, goats and donkeys in LA have been seen fleeing to safety from the blistering infernos as the city’s shelters fill up with lost pets.

Videos show wild animals running for their lives from the wildfires which have already claimed the lives of around 16 people while burning over 37,000 acres of land and destroying 12,000 structures in its wake.

In one clip take in the night, a mountain lion and two small cubs are seen running down Topanga Canyon Boulevard, California, away from the Palisades fire.

Californians are up in arms after it was revealed LA’s elite are hiring private firefighters for as much as $2,000 an hour to save their multi-million dollar homes.

In an effort to protect their investments the ultra-rich of Tinsel Town are hiring expensive private firefighters to save their homes using a bright pink flame retardant, a move that is infuriating many.

Governor Gavin Newsom is facing fresh fury after claiming he does not know how the Los Angeles wildfires happened – while appearing to cast blame on other officials, including beleaguered LA mayor Karen Bass.

Newsom has been accused of ‘passing the buck’ in his latest attempts to defend his response to the devastating ‘Palisade Fire’ inferno across the state.

The man previously touted as a potential Democrat presidential candidate has also been criticised over $100million cuts to funding earmarked for tackling wildfires.

The enormous image, captured by the Pléiades Neo satellite on January 9, shows Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades, as well as the Summit and North of Montana neighbourhoods, engulfed in the smoke.

PR experts have questioned the timing of the release of Meghan Markle’s Netflix cookery show and say it should be postponed amid the wildfires in Los Angeles.

The Duchess of Sussex’s long-awaited lifestyle series With Love, Meghan is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, January 15.

Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, were seen in the city helping hand out food parcels to survivors after making the 90 mile journey from their $29million Montecito mansion.

But despite their laudable efforts, making donations to the cause from their Archewell Foundation, and opening up their luxury home to their displaced friends and loved ones, scores of experts say Netflix should push back the release date of Meghan’s show.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stood next to the wife of the Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom who has come under increasing pressure from the likes of President-elect Donald Trump for his response to the raging wildfires.

The royal couple, who live near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles away from LA, were seen comforting victims as they handed out food parcels with Jennifer Newsom at the Pasadena Convention Centre, which is being used as an evacuation centre, on Friday.

California’s beleaguered governor Gavin Newsom has been accused of ‘passing the buck’ by saying in a new podcast interview he was struggling to get ‘straight answers’ from other local leaders and officials.

The Democrat state chief told Pod Save America and its host Jon Favreau: ‘So, I’m the governor of California and want know the answer – I’ve got that question, I can’t tell you, by how many people, “What happened” – on my own team, “What happened?”. I’ll be candid with you, I wasn’t getting straight answers.’

But there has been a backlash in response, with one X user posting: ‘If he doesn’t know what happened, when he’s the first who should know, then he isn’t fit for purpose and needs to resign.’

Meanwhile, LA mayor Karen Buss has faced new criticism after visiting a local fire HQ then posting a video message in which she was seen smiling.

Hollywood actor Mel Gibson, who says he has lost his home in the inferno, has now been asked by Fox News what advice he would give the pair – and said: ‘Spend less on hair gel.’

As the California wildfire crisis enters its fifth day, here is a rundown of the status of the biggest blazes as of Sunday morning:

The largest of the Los Angeles wildfires has scorched through 23,654 acres and leveled homes, businesses and structures in the Pacific Palisades right across to the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu.

So far, the fire is thought to have claimed the lives of at least five people and is just 11% contained.

The most recent development has seen the blaze explode into the Mandeville Canyon area, after the blaze spread towards it and the Brentwood neighborhood, partially closing the 405 freeway.

The Eaton Fire broke out on Tuesday and has since torn through 14,005 acres of land.

The blaze resulted in evacuation orders for those in Altadena and Pasadena, with more people ordered to flee on Thursday as the flames becan to encroach on Mount Wilson.

Glenoaks Canyon and Chevy Chase Canyon residents have since been allowed back home, with the fire 15% contained.

It has been estimated that the Eaton Fire has destroyed 7,000 structures and is responsible for the deaths of 8 people.

The Kenneth Fire spans across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and has so far burned 1,052 acres of land.

The blaze has been 90% contained since it broke out on Thursday and prior evacuation orders have since been lifted.

The smallest of the fires, the blaze is currently 76% contained and has affected 799 acres.

Evacuation orders were given to the areas around Sylmar, but these have since been lifted.