(Radio Iowa) — Ames Police were called last (Tuesday) night to an apartment building where a man had set himself on fire. Nearby residents used a fire extinguisher and a blanket to extinguish the fire after the man doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire outside.

Ames Police and Fire crews were called to the apartment complex (at 4714 Mortensen Road) on the city’s southwest side around 10:40 p.m. The man was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with life-threatening injuries.

A news release states there were “erroneous reports of a police pursuit preceding the incident.” Ames Police say there was NO such chase.