Perth man impersonates firefighter

A man found dressed in firefighting equipment and acting suspiciously near a bushfire south of Perth has been charged with stealing emergency services equipment.

When confronted by a senior firefighter and asked to identify himself, the 23-year-old claimed to be a volunteer firefighter before leaving the scene and sparking a police investigation.

The Kelmscott man was charged with stealing after West Australian Police found an emergency services radio and a dash-mounted emergency beacon while searching his home on Saturday.

The cause of the bushfire in Hopeland is not believed to be suspicious according to police.