Cops: FF Impersonator Helped PA Crews Battle Brush Fire

A Pennsylvania firefighter is accused of pretending to be a firefighter and helping crews put out a brush fire over the summer.

Jeremy Matthew Brathuhn, 23, faces charges of impersonating a public servant and improper lights in connection with the July 10 incident, the York Evening Sun reports. His preliminary hearing is Oct. 29.

According to police, Brathuhn arrived at the scene of a West Manheim Township brush fire that the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Company was battling. His truck had a flashing blue light, and he was wearing an unidentified fire company shirt, a reflective vest and a hard hat.

"The clothing, actions and statements of the male (Brathuhn) gave the pretense that he was a qualified firefighter which induced several members of the fire company to rely on this pretense as official authority to participate in the firefighting activity," the police report stated.

Brathuhn told firefighters he was a member of the North York Fire Company and that he was in the vicintiy when he noticed the blaze, according to the Evening Sun. He then began working at the scene, pulling a hose from an apparatus and helping to douse the flames.  

Police said Brathuhn also responded to another emergency call on an unspecified date. This time, he produced identification when asked.

Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Company officials contacted police after they became suspicious of Brathuhn's presence after several emergency calls. Following the July 10 incident, Fire Chief Ted Clouser asked North York's fire chief about Brathuhn and discovered that the man wasn't a member of the fire company.

Brathuhn allegedly confessed to police that he wasn't fire company member and had seen reports of the brush fire on social media.

"He advised that he helped a female pull line off the truck," police report stated, according to the Evening Sun. "He admittedly had his blue light on his truck but denied that he had it activated."