Los Angeles releases latest updates: At least 16 people dead in California wildfires, five in Palisades, as crews move forward containing one blaze

Officials warn against inflating prices; displaced Californians must bear high costspublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time

A man hugs a family member and cries as he looks at the remains of his home burned in the Eaton Fire in the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles County,

People who lost their homes or were displaced by fire evacuation orders say price gouging incidents are preventing them from finding new housing.

Maya Lieberman, a 50-year-old stylist, tells the AFP news agency that the price gouging is “going crazy” and that she can’t find a place to live.

“We applied for a house… that was priced at $17,000 (£14,000) a month and they told us that if we didn’t pay $30,000 we wouldn’t get the money. They told me they had people willing to offer more and pay cash. It’s absolutely crazy,” Lieberman says.

TV producer Alex Smith, who was forced to leave his home, says he has friends who booked hotels outside Los Angeles but were asked to pay more when they arrived.

California officials warn that those involved in price gouging, robbery and fraud are breaking the law and will be held accountable. “We have seen businesses and owners … raise prices,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Saturday at a news conference.

“It’s called price gouging. This is illegal. This cannot be done. It is a crime punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine,” he said, adding that in disaster situations prices can only increase by 10% or less.

“This is California law (and) it is intended to protect those affected by the tragedy,” he said.