Man charged with impersonating NYC firefighter in western NC

A man is charged with impersonating a firefighter in Morganton, North Carolina.

Firefighters said flames had already spread across two duplexes on Moorhead Street, and a woman died inside. They said a neighbor saw the flames, put on fire gear and tried to help.

His wife said Christopher McLean saw the glow from his window and immediately sprung into action. They said he put on New York City fire gear and grabbed a garden hose to fight the fire next door.

"I called 911," said his wife, who claimed her husband used to be a firefighter in New York. "He runs outside, runs over there to see if those apartments are inflamed."

His wife said McLean was trying to keep the flames away from their home.

When firefighters arrived, they said McLean wouldn't get off the property or allow them to begin fire ground operations.

McLean is charged with impersonating a firefighter.

Reporters reached out to the New York City Fire Department and were told they could not find anyone named McLean in the fire or EMS system.

His wife, who did not want to appear on camera, said she doesn't think her husband should face charges for what he did.

"Absolutely not," she said. "He was just trying to take care of our family and to make sure that everybody next door was okay."