Following recent arrests of individuals posing as firefighters, two more people have been apprehended for allegedly impersonating members of the press to gain entry to the Palisades Fire evacuation area.

Authorities report that the two suspects presented forged press credentials to bypass roadblocks and access the restricted zone. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers became suspicious of the pair's behavior as they repeatedly approached and left road closure points displaying what appeared to be Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) press passes.

Upon verification with the LASD, the CHP confirmed the press passes were fraudulent, leading to the arrest of both individuals. A subsequent search uncovered additional counterfeit press passes in their possession.

These arrests come on the heels of several similar incidents involving individuals attempting to deceive authorities to enter fire zones. An Oregon couple was recently arrested for impersonating firefighters using a fake fire truck, and another individual disguised as a firefighter was also taken into custody.

The CHP emphasized their collaboration with the LASD in securing affected communities and stated that illegal activities such as unauthorized entry into evacuation zones, forgery of press credentials, and looting will not be tolerated.