On Thursday evening, around 7:00pm, fire crews were called to a report of a fire in a garage location at 160 Cheese Lane in Tilden Township, near Hamburg, Berks County.
When crews arrived there were no signs of fire but the victim, Paul Correll Jr., 63 who called 911 from inside the garage, could be heard pounding on the garage door for help.
Smoke was then visible and Fire Chief Rusty Wagner from Shoemakersville Fire Company and Fire Chief Troy Hatt from Hamburg Fire along with Tilden Township Police, started to force the garage door up with pry bars.
After extricating the victim from the garage, within seconds, fire engulfed the entire garage.
It was realized once the victim was removed that the garage door would not go up due to the loss of power and the victim was bound to a wheel chair.
The victim suffered burns on his legs and smoke inhalation.
The Red Cross is assisting the family.
A cat was successfully recovered from the residence.
The Pennsylvania State Police investigated the fire and determined that it started when a rag made contact with a portable light fixture. It has been determined as accidental.
Fire units from Schuylkill County were also called to the fire.
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