LA sheriffs arrest at least 20 looters amid wildfires

"Over last night and this morning, we are up to 20 – 20 – individuals who chose to go into our areas and deprive these poor people who have been through so much of their property," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told reporters.

"Absolutely unacceptable," he said, adding that authorities are going to start enforcing a policy that makes it a misdemeanor for people to defy evacuation orders in the impacted areas. "As you know, when we have an evacuation order by law, if you remain in that area, you are guilty of a misdemeanor. If you commit certain crimes, it could jump up to a felony. I'm going to be asking our employees to start enforcing that," the sheriff said.

He added that it is a "fluid situation" on the ground and that many facts and figures may change as more information comes out about the fires. He added about the number of people arrested, "I do expect that to go up. We're not going to tolerate that kind of activity."

In the impacted region, at least 130,000 people have been asked to evacuate, according to Fox News. At least five people so far are known to have died in the blaze that started on Tuesday and authorities have having major difficulty containing the fires.