Two people were arrested on suspicion of dressing up as firefighters and trying to enter a Palisades fire evacuation zone in their own phony fire truck, authorities said Sunday.
Patrolling officers with the Los Angeles Police Department and fire officials saw a fire truck they thought was illegitimate and reported it to other law enforcement authorities, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s deputies approached the two people in the truck as they tried to enter the zone. They were wearing personal protective gear for firefighters and claimed to work for the “Roaring River Fire Department” in Oregon.
Deputies learned that fire department is not real and that the pair bought the truck at an auction. Underneath their PPE, helmets and radios, the two people were wearing Cal Fire T-shirts, the Sheriff’s Department said.
The pair were arrested on suspicion of impersonating firefighters and entering an evacuation zone.
Their truck was impounded.
“I don’t want people in these areas that don’t belong,” Sheriff Robert Luna said. “That is not acceptable. That is why we’re questioning people.”
He said in all, three people have been arrested after trying to impersonate firefighters, and two people were apprehended for trying to impersonate journalists.