WILLIMANTIC (AP) – A man who’d eluded arrest for two years took his own life when officers closed in on his camper on a secluded mountain ridge about a mile-and-a-half from the nearest road, authorities said.

Officers trying to arrest Roberto Morales on Wednesday saw the curtains inside the camper burst into flames, then heard two gunshots.

Local firefighters were unable to get near the trailer because “thousands of rounds of ammunition” along with an oxygen tank used for welding and propane tanks were exploding, according to officers at the scene.

“There was popping noises and a big whoosh with fireballs coming,” said Lt. Robert Young of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department.

Morales, 29, was wanted on charges of burglary and theft, as well as possession of a gun by a felon, authorities said.

Acting on information, two investigators snowshoed Wednesday to a remote area where Morales was believed to be living. They found an empty trailer but followed snowmobile tracks leading to the camper deep in the woods, Young said.

The two intended to keep Morales under surveillance but Morales’ dog alerted him to the presence of the officers.

Morales went back inside after telling officers that he “needed time to think about it” after being informed that he was under arrest.

About five minutes later, officers a fire, and then officers heard two gunshots inside the camper, Young said. They believe Morales shot himself and his dog after setting the fire that consumed them both, he said.