Miami Firefighter Chases Down Alleged Truck Thief

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A City of Miami firefighter was at the right place at the right time when a brief car chase ended in a fiery crash.

City of Miami Police say a man flagged down Miami Fire Lt. Allen Chapman after witnessing a man stealing a small truck with a trailer attached.

The Lt. Chapman jumped in a firetruck to follow the suspect and provide police with more information.

The thief tried swerving in and out of traffic in the area of Biscayne Blvd and 29th Street in an effort to break the trailer free. Instead the trailer let off sparks, eventually causing a fire.

"It ignited from the sparks on the ground so it was like in the movies," said Lt. Chapman. "All the way down the street the fire started following the vehicle,  he bailed at the intersection and let the car just keep going"

Police eventually caught up to the thief and placed him under arrest, while the fire truck immediately put out the fire.