Riverside police warn residents of men impersonating firefighters

Two men impersonating firefighters were allowed inside a Riverside home after telling the resident they were checking compliance with a new fire code that required smoke detectors, police said Friday.

The incident happened about 6:45 p.m. Thursday in the 3200 block of Northwest Cerrito Lane.

A woman called police after she allowed the two men inside her home. The men, who were not wearing Fire Department uniforms, walked around and appeared to take notes on a clipboard, said police spokesman Sgt. Brent Holland.

The Riverside Fire Department does not inspect existing homes for code compliance, police said. The department does install smoke detectors at the request of a homeowner. Firefighters will be dressed in uniforms and have proper identification.

Anyone who suspects someone is impersonating a police officer, firefighter or city employee is encouraged to call 911, Holland said.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Riverside police warn residents of men impersonating firefighters."