The FBI may have been spotted in Ben Affleck’s neighborhood, but their visit wasn’t about him. Over the weekend of Jan. 11 and 12, two FBI agents, accompanied by deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, were seen surveying the Palisades area as part of an investigation linked to the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
An FBI spokesperson explained to E! News, Members of the FBI’s Ground Intercept task force are conducting activity in the area of the Palisades fire relative to unauthorized drone activity. Agents and our local partners may be visible throughout the area, including at various residences, for this reason.”
TMZ published photos showing law enforcement outside a home near the Palisades, which is reportedly close to Affleck’s property. However, the FBI declined to confirm whether their investigation involved the actor’s residence specifically.
While the FBI did not disclose details about the drone activity under investigation, the incident appears to follow a Jan. 9 collision between a private drone and a Canadian firefighting aircraft—known as a Super Scooper—while it was assisting with efforts to contain the Palisades fire.
After the drone collision, the firefighting aircraft was grounded due to significant damage caused by the impact, according to NBC News Los Angeles, citing the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The investigation into the unauthorized drone activity comes amid the ongoing devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires. Fueled by strong winds, the fires have wreaked havoc across the region. As of Jan. 13, NBC News reports that the wildfires have claimed 24 lives, destroyed over 12,300 structures, and burned through 40,000 acres. The Pacific Palisades fire, the largest in the area, remains almost 15 percent contained at this time.
Both Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s houses remain undamaged at the time of this publishing. However, Garner has been in the news because she lost a friend in the wildfires. Her friend was not able to make it out in time. She told MSNBC she is not ready to talk about her friend yet.