Teenager Arrested Near Brush Fire on Suspicion of Impersonating a Firefighter

A Buena Park teenager baffled authorities at the scene of a fire and car accident Wednesday morning when he showed up donning firefighter’s garb and claiming to be part of the crew.

Anaheim firefighters were battling a brush fire near the Riverside Freeway at Euclid Street about 10:30 a.m. when a truck smashed into a car and pushed it into one of the fire engines. As firefighters continued their efforts to control the blaze and Fullerton police took reports of the accident, “this kid was in the middle of it all saying he was a firefighter,” Anaheim Battalion Chief Bob Young said.

The 18-year-old, dressed in typical firefighter’s uniform--yellow coat, heavy pants and boots--approached several firefighters and allegedly claimed that the Fullerton Fire Department had sent him to assist.

Firefighters and police who had seen him allegedly pretending to be a firefighter on previous occasions began questioning the youth and learned that he did not work for the Fullerton Fire Department.

“It turned out that he doesn’t work for any fire department,” Fullerton Police Sgt. Glenn Deveny said. “As a matter of fact, he’s not even a fireman . . . so they put him in handcuffs.”

John Nathaniel Cornelius was arrested on suspicion of impersonating a firefighter and interfering with firefighters, Deveny said. He was booked into Fullerton City Jail and released on $500 bail.

“He said he bought the firefighter gear for $50 from some guy,” Deveny said.

Young said the youth probably had been following the Fire Department’s activities with a police radio scanner.

“Maybe he’s just an overenthusiastic kid,” Young said.