FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A man has been accused of impersonating a firefighter in order to steal equipment from crews tackling a wildfire.
Michael Maher, 30, appeared in court Monday afternoon in Fort Collins, Colo., in connection with the theft of radios and batteries, according to CBS4.
Maher allegedly told authorities that the ID he used to get access to the area was his former card from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he was previously employed.
Maher posted photos of himself on Facebook in a yellow-and-green wildland firefighter uniform posing with Gov. John Hickenlooper and sitting in the pilot seat of a helicopter at the High Park Fire.
According to The Denver Channel, his ruse came to light Saturday when he was contacted by a fire chief in the burn area. Maher “appeared to have phony firefighter credentials” and was driving a silver Toyota Tacoma with a stolen government license.