Man impersonating AZ firefighter told residents to evacuate amid wildfire: sheriff
CONGRESS, Ariz. - Authorities say a man who caused panic when he impersonated a firefighter and told residents to evacuate after a wildfire sparked northwest of Phoenix has been arrested.
The incident happened on July 10 as crews were battling the Hillside Fire, which broke out near Congress.
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office says they were notified that a man was going to homes, impersonating a Yarnell Hill firefighter, and telling residents they needed to evacuate, which was not true.
Some residents were placed on SET status. However, evacuations hadn't officially been ordered by the sheriff's office.
Investigators say the suspect, identified as Rodney Patrick Parent, had been let go from the Yarnell Fire Department months prior.
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Parent was later spotted by deputies driving down the street near his home and he was taken into custody.
"Deputies located Yarnell fire clothing, wildland fire pants, and a hardhat with a lamp described by neighbors," YCSO said. "Ring video footage was also located showing Patrick at residences ringing the doorbell, announcing 'fire department.'"
YCSO says Parent showed signs of impairment. He was booked into jail and is accused of DUI, impersonating a public servant, criminal nuisance and disorderly conduct.
"YCSO wants to stress that any evacuation notices will come from YCSO through proper channels or by our personnel directly," the sheriff's office said.
Residents in a Congress neighborhood were already on alert of the when an unknown visitor showed up.
"We just thought it was a fireman telling us what to do," Bill Stamey said. "We were all walking around looking at the fire and everything, and he came up and told me to put water on my house and stuff, be ready to evacuate, that it was coming over the hill right there."
Same for neighbor Greg Hammer.
"It was dark, but this gentleman came up and said, ‘Hey get your hoses out and water down your houses before we lose water,' and then he left," Hammer said.
Deputies say some neighbors were falsely told to evacuate, causing unnecessary fear.
"I didn’t know how close it was. You know, I could see the flames, but he made it seem like it was really a lot closer than it was I think," Stamey said.
When hearing the news of the arrest, residents were surprised and frustrated.
"There are really people out here that are going to tell you that, so when you leave, you’re going to be missing a lot of stuff, but in the same token, it surprises me that, like I said earlier, you’re going to tell me, you’re going to walk up to a door and knock on it and somebody’s your see you face to face. That’s pretty strange. Somebody’s not thinking very well, in my opinion," Hammer said.
YCSO also said that any evacuation notices will come through proper channels or from county personnel directly.