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s the Pacific Palisades fire continued to spread after destroying over 12,000 structures, a private firefighting team stood guard outside developer Rick Caruso's home in Brentwood. The team of five firefighters from different outfits was hired by Caruso over the weekend to protect his property, according to the Los Angeles Times.

    Caruso, who owns numerous residential and commercial properties, is among those who employed private firefighters during the devastating firestorms that ravaged over 52,000 structures across LA's Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, Pasadena, and parts of Brentwood and the south San Fernando Valley. A firefighter working a 48-hour shift to protect Caruso's home said he would be replaced by two others on Monday.

    Private firefighting units on site included All Terrain, founded in 1996 by retired military and fire service personnel, and West Coast Water Tenders, which provides tactical water trucks and mobile retardant bases. The cost of hiring these services was not disclosed. Caruso's properties, including the Grove shopping center and Palisades Village, were also protected.

    The use of private firefighting units has been criticized for exacerbating class divides during disasters, with some homeowners hiring them to protect their properties while others are left vulnerable. In 2018, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West hired firefighters to save their $60 million mansion from the Woolsey Fire in Calabasas. Insurance companies also contract these services, which can benefit both parties if a homeowner's property is saved.