Rescuers save a city dweller from fire | News, Sports, Vacancies

Altoona firefighters late Friday rescued a man from a Fairview home that was burning in the rear, according to city Fire Chief Adam Free.

They found the man in the bathroom, woke him up and he was able to get out and was taken to the hospital, conscious and expected to have a good outcome, Free said.

If someone driving in the alley behind the house had not noticed the fire and caused it, and if the firefighters had not arrived quickly – within a minute of the alarm – the fire could have spread from the back wall into the house and… the result could have been others” for a 20-year-old man, Free said.

Firefighters also rescued a dog, possibly a goldendoodle, Free said.

“The dog will be fine,” Free said.

The fire in the 1600 block of 22nd Avenue appears to have been accidental, Free said, although that is not a final determination.

It started on the back deck and worked its way up the vinyl siding to the roof line, Free said.

While there was no fire inside the home, it was heavily damaged by smoke, Free said.

He estimated the total damage at about $25,000.

Firefighters brought the fire under control in 10 minutes.

According to Free, 11 firefighters who were on duty at the time were on the scene.

A neighbor who saw the man’s truck parked outside alerted firefighters to the possibility that the man was inside, Free said.

It didn’t take long for firefighters to find him, Free said.

However, finding potential victims is difficult when there is heavy smoke, he said.

Firefighters work by feel, room by room, systematically, and may also use thermal imaging cameras, he said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Keibler: 814-949-7038.