Playing dress-up can be a fun and harmless activity, but there should always be boundaries. Recently, a couple took their role-playing to the extreme by purchasing an entire firetruck and pretending to be firefighters. This unconventional hobby ultimately led to their arrest.
Two individuals posing as firefighters successfully purchased a firetruck at an auction. They went on to equip themselves, as well as the truck, with all the necessary gear. They were fully prepared, donning turnout gear, helmets, and carrying radios.
As they made their way towards the ongoing wildfires in California, the duo decided to put their disguises to the test. On their journey, they reached The Palisades and encountered a checkpoint. Approaching with an air of confidence, they pulled up in their own firetruck, only to be halted. Undeterred, they asserted that their vehicle belonged to the Roaring River Fire Department in Oregon.
However, a vigilant fire chief noticed something suspicious happening. While assistance was pouring in from all over America, the name didn’t seem legitimate to him. He decided to dig deeper and discovered that there was no actual location called Roaring River from where the firetruck and the impostor firefighters could have originated.
The Game Was Up For Fake Firefighter Fun
Local deputies were alerted when they discovered an unauthorized truck on the scene. Taking swift action, they located the fraudulent firetruck and apprehended Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44. Both individuals were arrested and face charges for impersonating a firefighter and entering an evacuation zone. The firetruck has been seized and is currently in custody.
It is anyone’s guess what Dustin and his companion had in mind when they decided to venture into the evacuation zone with a firetruck. However, it is worth noting that Dustin has a previous conviction for arson and criminal mischief. This suggests that whatever their intentions were, they were consistent with his past actions.
Driving a whole firetruck into some of the largest wildfires in the US is a highly reckless and dangerous act, which is especially appealing to arsonists. The individuals who engage in such behavior must have found great pleasure in the few hours they spent driving around in the truck. Faking the identity of a firefighter with a complete firetruck requires an immense amount of audacity.
They might have been attempting to assist with the fires, but there are alternative methods to do so without using a firetruck and posing as emergency services.