A firefighter in Berlin in a file photo. Firefighters called to a blaze at an apartment building in a southern German town were astonished to discover a fully equipped extremely drunk imposter in their ranks, police said on Thursday. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

BERLIN (Reuters) - Firefighters called to a blaze at an apartment building in a southern German town were astonished to discover a fully equipped extremely drunk imposter in their ranks, police said on Thursday.

On hearing the alarm, the 38-year-old man had rushed to the fire station, was helped into protective clothing and helmet by unsuspecting firefighters and boarded the fire engine, a spokesman for Suedhessen police said.

After arriving at the apartments, firefighters quickly realized the man was an imposter and called the police, he added.

“When fire breaks out, it’s all hands on deck!” the man told officers when questioned about his motives. He was released without charge after sobering up overnight in a police cell.