Couple with fake fire truck busted for impersonating firefighters near Palisades Fire in Los Angeles: sheriff

Los Angeles authorities said a couple was arrested for impersonating firefighters after they attempted to enter an evacuation zone with a fake firetruck near the Palisades Fire area.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Dustin Nehl, 31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were arrested for Impersonating a Firefighter and entering an evacuation zone.

Officials said an LAPD patrol unit was driving through the Palisades Fire area with fire personnel and noticed a fire truck that did not appear to be legitimate. 

The officers reached out to deputies and shared that the individuals in the phony fire truck attempted to enter an evacuation zone.

LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES: ARMED HOMEOWNERS PATROL FOR LOOTERS INSIDE EVACUATION ZONE

Upon approaching the truck, officials said deputies noticed that both suspects were wearing turnout gear. 

The occupants claimed to be from the “Roaring River Fire Department” in Oregon. However, deputies learned that the department was not legitimate, and the truck was purchased at an auction.

The fire truck was impounded by authorities. 

LA MAYOR’S OFFICE SILENT ON DEPUTY WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF FIRE DEPT., PLACED ON LEAVE FOR ALLEGED BOMB THREAT

Officials said the two occupants were also wearing CAL-Fire t-shirts under the turnout gear, and had helmets and radios.

The couple admitted to deputies that they had entered the evacuation zone.

Authorities uncovered that Dustin Nehl has a criminal history in Oregon, including criminal mischief and arson. 

2 MORE FIREBUGS CHARGED AS LA’S NEW TOUGH-ON-CRIME DA HEATS UP FIGHT AGAINST LOOTERS AND ARSONISTS

Investigators will be presenting the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration on Tuesday. 

As of January 12, approximately 29 people have been arrested in Los Angeles so far in connection to criminal activity related to the ongoing wildfires.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said 25 of those arrested were in the area of the Eaton Fire, while four others came from the Palisades Fire evacuation zone. 

Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report. 

This post was shared from Fox News.

The Fox News Channel (FNC), commonly known as Fox News, is an American multinational conservative news and political commentary television channel and website based in New York City, U.S. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owned by the Fox Corporation. It is the most-watched cable news network in the U.S., and as of 2023 it generates approximately 70% of its parent company's pre-tax profit. The channel broadcasts primarily from studios at 1211 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan. Fox News provides a service to 86 countries and territories, with international broadcasts featuring Fox Extra segments during advertising breaks. Last updated from Wikipedia 2025-02-20T17:42:35Z.
Wide Variation in Reliability
Strong Right
Take-Down Requests
If you represent the source for this content and would like us to remove this from our site, please submit a takedown request above and we will review it promptly.
Something here about the community discussion ground rules. Recently updated charts from the most popular data releases according to the Federal Reserve Economic Database (FRED).
…..comments widget will be down here.
Recently updated charts from the most popular data releases according to the Federal Reserve Economic Database (FRED).