Couple Arrested for Impersonating Firefighters with Fake Fire Truck in L.A. Wildfire Zone

Authorities detained an Oregon man with a history of arson and his wife after they used a decommissioned fire truck to access the Palisades Fire evacuation area.

Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were arrested for impersonating firefighters and entering a restricted fire zone near the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
The couple used a decommissioned fire truck purchased at an auction, complete with fake decals and firefighting gear, to pose as members of a nonexistent 'Roaring River Fire Department.'
Authorities discovered that Dustin Nehl has a criminal history, including prior arson convictions in Oregon.
The fire truck was impounded, and the pair admitted to entering the evacuation zone the day before their arrest.
Officials have reported increased incidents of impersonation, looting, and other crimes in evacuation areas during the ongoing wildfires.

San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles Times