BLUEFIELD, Md. — Two volunteer firefighters were arrested after taking an emergency vehicle and driving it into a tunnel during a fire.



The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported that Colin Dunn and Virginia Price were arrested on obstructing charges. Police said the couple traveled into the tunnel when a tractor-trailer fire was being battled. The two stopped, threw on some gear and took a county emergency vehicle.



"They ran into the tunnel, in their infinite wisdom," Sgt. D.W. Miller said. "They said they were attempting to help their friends — they are volunteer firemen in Maryland. We explained to them they were not in Maryland, and did not have friends in the tunnel. They had no authority to do that here, basically."

Sgt. Miller said the initial report was that the couple stole a fire truck, but later reports indicated it was a county emergency vehicle, according to the report. The two were not charged with theft of the vehicle. He said they had good intentions, but could have put themselves and others in harm’s way with their actions.

The fire in the tunnel closed two lanes Friday afternoon and evening.