US man steals fire truck from crews battling his burning home in New Hampshire, crashes it

A New Hampshire man allegedly stole a rescue truck from firefighters battling a blaze at his own home, drove over active fire hoses and crashed into a fire engine before fleeing the scene, authorities said.According to the New York Post, 30-year-old Nestor Roman II of Dalton faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges over the early-morning incident on August 25. The fire broke out near Faraway Road and Mountain Road, with several nearby departments responding to assist Dalton Fire & Rescue.New Hampshire State Police said troopers were heading to the scene around 3:50 am when they learned that a Whitefield Fire & Rescue vehicle had been stolen.Roman allegedly got behind the wheel of an F550 rescue truck shortly before 5 am while firefighters were still fighting the blaze.Officials said Roman drove around a Whitefield fire engine, nearly hitting two firefighters and narrowly missing a third who could have been trapped between the vehicles. He then allegedly crashed the stolen truck into the fire engine and a pickup.The rescue truck also ran over multiple water-supply lines, including two charged hoses being used to battle the fire. The hoses were not damaged, officials said.Roman allegedly continued driving, striking a firefighter's personal vehicle and damaging wooden fences at two nearby properties before fleeing.The chase ended several miles away after a Dalton homeowner reported that the stolen rescue vehicle had crashed on their property. The homeowner also told police that the driver was allegedly trying to take items from the porch.Troopers found Roman there and took him into custody after he was initially uncooperative, police said.Roman faces three felony counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, burglary and two counts of theft by unauthorized taking. He also faces several misdemeanor charges, including conduct after an accident, obstructing government administration, resisting arrest, driving after suspension and driving over a fire hose without consent.Despite significant damage, the Whitefield fire engine remained operational and firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze.Officials said the house was a "complete loss."The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire. No firefighters were physically injured in the incident, Dalton Fire & Rescue said.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.