Texas Man Set Several Arson Fires Along Highway. Then, He Allegedly Stabbed One of the Firefighters Battling His Blazes.

A Texas firefighter was on the scene of several arson fires when he was allegedly stabbed by the suspected arsonist, according to authorities.

Around 3 a.m. on May 29, the Austin Fire Department was called about someone setting fires along the highway.

Once on the scene, firefighters found a man dragging something that was sparking the fires on Interstate 35, KTBC reported.

"Our firefighters got out to question him and put out the fires," said Eddie Martinez, chief shift commander with the Austin Fire Department. “He became a little agitated. When he became agitated, our firefighters stepped back, and they were letting him continue to walk, and they were putting out the fires behind him."

Then the alleged arsonist walked onto the highway, so a firefighter intervened to keep him from getting hurt, officials said.

“One of our firefighters, as [the man] moved off of the highway, stood in front of him to keep him from walking back onto the highway,” Martinez said. “[The man] got a little agitated. An altercation happened, and he stabbed our firefighter in the thigh."

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The other firefighters at the scene detained the man until police arrived. The alleged arsonist was then taken into custody, officials said.

Martinez said the firefighter was treated and released from a hospital and is “doing great” now, KTBC reported.

Officials did not release any details on what the man used to stab the firefighter or what charges he might face.