The driver of a stolen vehicle rammed a police car and backed into another during a brief chase on Thursday night.
Police are still looking for the driver, who left the stolen car damaged and steaming on Bastia Hill, Whanganui just after midnight.
Whanganui Fire station officer Jes Sorensen said firefighters were called out to a car fire at 12.23am.
"The front had been pushed in onto the motor," he said.
"The engine was running and it was steaming from the engine."