Hybrid Warfare Tactics During the Los Angeles Wildfires

Why Those Weird Crimes During LA's Fire Crisis Might Not Be Random After All

Kyle Grillot for The New York Times

As a security analyst with training in emergency response who studies hybrid warfare and threats to democracy, the unfolding events in LA County's January 2025 wildfires reveal a pattern that warrants careful examination. Hidden within the LA District Attorney's recent charging announcement against nine individuals lies evidence of what may be systematic probing of emergency response capabilities.

The criminal charges themselves, spanning arson, emergency responder impersonation, and unauthorized presence in evacuation zones, might appear as opportunistic crimes common during disasters, and were called out as such by District Attorney Nathan Hochman:

“To anyone who believes they can use this disaster as a cover for criminal activity, let this be your warning: You will be caught, and you will be held accountable,”

“The citizens of this county deserve safety and justice, especially in the wake of such unprecedented devastation, and I will not rest until w…