A Texas firefighter on scene of several arson fires along Interstate 35 was stabbed by the alleged arsonist early Monday.

Eddie Martinez, chief shift commander with the Austin Fire Department, said the firefighter was stabbed in the thigh and is recovering at home and the suspect has been arrested.

The fire department was called shortly after 3 a.m. about someone setting fires along the highway, and firefighters arrived on scene to find a man dragging something that was sparking the fires, KTBC reported.

“Our firefighters got out to question him and put out the fires. 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,” said Martinez.

Media: Early this a.m., an @austinfiredept FF was working several🔥s near IH35/Riverside; he was stabbed in the thigh by person on scene. The FF was taken to the hospital, treated, and released; he's home and doing ok. Suspect arrested on scene; contact @Austin_Police for info.

— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) May 29, 2023

When the man walked onto the highway, one firefighter intervened  to keep him from being hurt.

“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.”

The other firefighters detained the man until police arrived, and he was taken into custody.

“There have been situations in the past where we’ve had altercations with people. This is the first time that I can remember that one of our firefighters has been injured in this way,” said Martinez.

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

Authorities didn’t say what the man used to stab the firefighter, and it’s not clear what charges he faces.

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[Featured image: Pixabay]