Man 'posed as firefighter' to victims of devastating bushfires

A man will face court accused of fraud and impersonating a firefighter after devastating bushfires swept northern NSW.

The 58-year-old arrived in Rappville after a fire ripped through the town in October and allegedly received relief aid in the form of stock feed, food packages and clothing donations from registered organisations.

Picture of a cow standing in a burnt paddock, which was devastated by the bushfires that swept through Rappville.
Several properties were lost when an out-of-control bushfire swept through the northern NSW village of Rappville. Source: AAP Image / Dan Peled.

Just over a week later, he's accused of posing as a firefighter at a local community meeting.

His alleged offending continued in November, when police say he offered residents help to clean the town and demanded money for the work.

The man has been charged with impersonating an emergency services organisation officer, dishonestly obtaining property by deception and having goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen.

Picture of a car burnt by the bushfire in the rural town of Rappville.
Rappville, NSW, was completely devastated by the bushfires and the place where a man allegedly impersonated a firefighter. Source: AAP Image / Dan Peled.

"The man was also served with a formal direction by rangers to immediately cease squatting and also conducting non-charitable business in the town," police said in a statement on Thursday.

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