BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

‘It’s sickening’: Firefighter battling Bay Area fires robbed while on duty, Cal Fire says

Ben Slaughter, a firefighter for the Boulder Creek Fire Department, walks along Highway 9 while monitoring flames from the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Boulder Creek, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (NewsNation) – A Santa Cruz Fire Ground Commander battling a Bay Area fire was robbed by looters over the weekend, according to Cal Fire.

When the firefighter returned to his work vehicle after working all day, he noticed his wallet was missing, and he later realized his entire bank account had been drained.

“It’s unfortunate. It’s sickening that one of our Fire Ground Commanders, while out taking care of business and directing firefighting crews, somebody entered his department vehicle and stole his wallet and drained his bank account,” a Cal Fire official said in the briefing.

Cal Fire tweeted about the incident, emphasizing the importance of staying out of evacuated zones.

Five people were arrested Friday on multiple charges including looting, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said.

Friday afternoon, there were reports of looters targeting residents who were forced to leave their homes due to the fires.

Sheriff’s deputies patrolled Friday evening to observe and make sure the looters stayed away. Cal Fire tweeted about the incident, emphasizing the importance of staying out of evacuated zones.

The CZU Lightning Complex fires, affecting San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, have expanded to more than 71,000 acres and are 17% contained at last check.

Wildfires in California

West

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

50°F Fair Feels like 49°
Wind
3 mph ENE
Humidity
50%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
47°F Partly cloudy skies. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph NNE
Precip
7%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous