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Firefighters Save 79-Year-Old Man From Fire

WOODWARD TOWNSHIP — A 79-year-old man is recovering at a burn center after a dramatic rescue in Clinton County early Thursday morning. Some quick-thinking...
clint fire

WOODWARD TOWNSHIP -- A 79-year-old man is recovering at a burn center after a dramatic rescue in Clinton County early Thursday morning. Some quick-thinking firefighters were able to save the man who was trapped outside on his apartment's second-floor balcony near Lock Haven.

Imagine you're standing on your second-floor balcony, flames at your back, and a firefighter is telling you might have to jump to save your life. Because of privacy reasons, we won't be sharing the name of the burn victim, but neighbors tell us if it weren't for those emergency responders the man's injuries could have been much worse.

The front window of this apartment in Woodward Meadows is charred from flames. Apartment 19 inside the elderly housing complex just outside Lock Haven caught fire early Thursday morning.

"The entire, you couldn't even see the window or the roof for the flames coming out the living room window,” said BethLynn Lowell from Woodward Township.

BethLynn Lowell lives a few doors away. She went outside after a neighbor called her around 2 a.m.

"I didn't think anybody could have survived it," said Lowell.

Dunnstown Township's assistant Fire Chief Mike Fetzer was the first one on scene. He found a 79- year-old man trapped out on the second-floor balcony.

"Obviously didn't want him to go back in the house. Like I said, it was a complete ball of fire," said Fetzer.

At first the assistant chief wanted the man to jump from the balcony.

"Gentleman, you know I don't think he might not have had the strength to do it. He was unable to get up and over," said Fetzer.

"I would have to be pretty desperate to do it. I don't think I would" said Lowell.

To jump from that balcony would be a last resort, and luckily the man didn't have to do it. Fire crews tell us they came just in the nick of time and were able to help him down using a ladder.

"It was only a matter of seconds to we got him down from there that actually flashed him that fire come right over to where he was originally standing,” said Fetzer.

The elderly man suffered burns to his hands and back and was taken to a hospital.

"I'm just grateful that he's not injured severely," said Lowell.

"Sometimes you can get emotional about it. Think about it afterwards. I guess I look at the good part and feel that the guy is safe and hopefully is going to recover and do well,” said Fetzer.

The 79 year old is expected to survive. No one else in the apartment building was hurt. There's still no word on what caused that fire in Clinton County.

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