PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man was caught on camera trying to siphon gas from a U-Haul truck in SE Portland when his plans went up in flames, according to officials.
Security guards found the U-Haul truck and a van engulfed in flames around 7 a.m. Monday morning at SE 2nd and Belmont.
Surveillance video from a nearby store showed a man running from the scene with his pants on fire.
The security guards called 911 and Portland Fire & Rescue quickly extinguished the flames, but the man seen in the videos had vanished.
If you smell something burning this morning…Portland Fire just put out this van and Uhaul, which we’re fully involved. The fire investigator is on scene at SE 2nd and Belmont. #KOIN6News pic.twitter.com/05UNxek4N2— Elise Haas (@EliseKOIN) November 19, 2018
Investigators said the man was trying to siphon gas from the U-Haul using tubes. Fire officials said something went wrong and a fire ignited in a van the suspect was in before quickly spreading to the U-Haul.
“Something ignited that gasoline caught fire. We don’t believe this is what the individual intended,” said Lt. Rich Chatman with Portland Fire & Rescue.
Chatman said officials are working to identify and locate the suspect.
“We assume he’ll probably be needing some kind of medical care for those burns,” Chatman added.
Watch: Surveillance video of man siphoning gas, then running away with pants on fire