The Eureka Times Standard (California)

ARCATA, Calif. — While taking a break from fighting an Arcata house fire on Tuesday afternoon, volunteer firefighters from Blue Lake chased and held two suspected thieves, the Arcata Police Department reported.

While investigating the report of a stolen backpack from the crowd of onlookers at the fire on 15th Street, Arcata police heard that Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Greg Perry and other firefighters, along with several citizens, were chasing two suspects.

They captured the suspects in the 800 block of 16th Street and held them for police.

Austin Campbell, 18, and a 15 year-old male, both from Arcata, were taken into custody for possession of stolen property. Campbell was booked into the Humboldt County jail, and the juvenile was booked at the Arcata Police Department and released to his parents.

The property was returned to the victim of the theft.