Los Angeles, CA, Jan 23, (V7N) – Two people were arrested over the weekend after being caught pretending to be firefighters in a wildfire evacuation zone in Los Angeles County.

The individuals, a 31-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman, were spotted in a fire truck in the Palisades fire area on Saturday. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD noticed the truck "did not appear to be legitimate" and confronted the pair as they attempted to enter the evacuation zone.

The two individuals claimed to be with the "Roaring River Fire Department" based in Oregon, but authorities later confirmed that the agency did not exist. Additionally, the truck was found to have been purchased at an auction. Photos released by the sheriff’s department show the truck, which has now been impounded.

Court records reveal that the 31-year-old man had a criminal history, including a conviction for arson, attempted arson, and possession of an incendiary device in 2016 in Marion County, Oregon. He was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay over $30,000 in restitution to the city of Woodburn, Oregon.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office filed charges for impersonating a fire officer and attempting unauthorized entry into a closed disaster area against both individuals, according to a sheriff’s department spokesperson.

The arrests follow concerns raised by officials regarding criminal activities amid the ongoing wildfires, which have led to mass evacuations and significant destruction. In a recent press conference, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Chief Robert G. Luna shared his experience of encountering a suspect posing as a firefighter in Malibu. "He looked like a firefighter, but he was caught burglarizing a home," Luna said, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement during the crisis.

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