An Oceanside firefighter was threatened by a knife-wielding man while responding to a house fire Thursday, officials said.
Crews with the Oceanside Fire Department (OFD) responded to the fire on Strawberry Place, near College Boulevard and State Route 78, at about 9 p.m. and entered the home to find the source.
Some firefighters outside the home thought they saw someone running back inside the home so a firefighter inside began to search the home.
When the firefighter entered a bedroom, a man with a large knife jumped out at him and began swinging the knife towards the firefighter, OFD said.
The firefighter pinned the man against a wall and waited until Oceanside police and a K-9 unit arrived to take the man into custody.
The firefighter was not injured, OFD said. An Oceanside Police Department officer was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Crews determined the fire was coming from a laptop that was placed on the stove and had ignited. OFD did not say whether they believed the fire was started intentionally or accidentally.
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The suspect was taken into custody. It is not clear what charges he will be facing.
