A man has been charged with stealing a fire truck and driving almost three hours across a state border before crashing near an army base.

Police pursued the man, who drove from southern NSW to central Victoria, after allegedly stealing the truck from Bolton Rural Fire Service sheds near Jerilderie on November 5.

NSW Police responded to the reported theft and followed the man as he crossed the state border at Tocumwal.

The car thief was driving at the speed limit but did not stop, police said.

The driver continued along the Murray Valley Highway to the Goulburn Valley Highway as police continued to pursue him.

Stop sticks were successfully used near Shepparton to deflate the truck's tyres, but he continued on to the Puckapunyal Army Base .

The truck was allegedly driven through th

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