KRGV.com

PROGRESO - A Border Patrol chase led to the capture of several illegal immigrants. It also resulted in a fire at a sugarcane field in Progreso.

The incident happened before 7 p.m. across from the Progreso Independent School District building.

Border Patrol officials said their agents noticed a suspicious vehicle with several passengers. The agents tried to stop the vehicle but the driver sped away.

The driver turned into a dirt road next to the Progreso city park and drove in to a sugarcane field. The passengers exited the vehicle and tried to flee.

Officials said a hot part of the car, perhaps the catalytic converter, started the fire.

Agents captured seven illegal immigrants. They said two may have escaped.

The fire raised concern among nearby residents.

"All of a sudden I saw the flames and my daughter called me and told me ‘mommy, they are burning,'" Rosa Barrerio said.

"I told her ... we are going to burn because the flames are too close," she said.

"I'm scared because the wind is very high and the fire can move to our houses," Rosie de Leon said.

Progreso firefighters said they were trying to keep the blaze contained.