Two people were arrested for trying to sneak into a fire evacuation zone in a fake fire truck while pretending to be firefighters, authorities said. The unusual incident unfolded when Los Angeles police officers and fire officials spotted a truck that seemed out of place near the danger zone. They reported it to other law enforcement, who soon confronted the pair trying to enter.
The two were dressed in firefighter gear and claimed to be from the “Roaring River Fire Department” in Oregon. But when deputies checked, they discovered that no such department existed. The pair had bought the truck at an auction, and under their firefighter outfits, they were actually wearing Cal Fire T-shirts.
They were arrested on charges of impersonating firefighters and trying to enter an evacuation zone. Their truck was also seized.
Sheriff Robert Luna emphasized how important it is to keep unauthorized people out of these dangerous areas. “We can’t have people in zones where they don’t belong,” he said. In total, three people have been arrested for impersonating firefighters, and two others were caught trying to pose as journalists in the area.
