A man was arrested Tuesday after locking two Chicago firefighters in his basement where the floor was covered in gasoline.

Firefighters went to the residence for a garage fire. Once it was out, the homeowner asked the crew to check out an odor of gas in the basement, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. 

A battalion chief and lieutenant obliged but told the man to go first. He then removed a wooden board blocking the basement. They didn't smell gas when they got there.

The man ran up the stairs quickly, and they followed. However, he pointed a large knife at them, CFD PIO Larry Langford said adding that they noticed other exits were boarded up.

“He ordered them back in the basement,” Langford said. But the two started struggling with him.

The chief was able to get on the radio and call a 10-1 to alert the crews outside and police. 

Firefighters smashed a window to reach the two and pull them out. They were not hurt.

The man then barricaded himself in a bathroom with two knives and an empty holster. Firefighters broke down the door and police took him into custody.

He was taken to a hospital. Charges are pending. 

Police found a loaded gun in the basement as well as a number of hoses and wires. 

The man was convicted nearly 20 years ago of murdering a rap producer in Austin, according to police.

“It was very scary. It’s speculation that this individual was trying to lure our people into a situation where they could be trapped, and he was preparing to light the accelerant with them in the basement,” Langford said.