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The unidentified man had difficulty breathing and was taken to an area hospital after he ran into the burning multi-family home at 329 Walnut St., in an attempt to rescue pets trapped inside, Assistant Chief Thomas Fitzpatrick said on the scene.
Fitzpatrick said the man was expected to be OK.
Firefighters responded to the blaze at the three-story, wood-frame home shortly after 1 p.m. When crews arrived, they found the kitchen of a first-floor apartment engulfed in flames, the chief said.
The occupants of the home had all cleared out of the building, Fitzpatrick said, but several cats were still inside.
While the cause of the fire was still under investigation, the chief noted there was food on the stove at the time the blaze ignited. From there, the fire quickly spread to the cabinets and ceiling area, he said.
Firefighters were able to contain the flames to the kitchen area and rescued all the pets. The fire was declared under control roughly 15 minutes after crews responded.
Three families live in the home and as of 2:45 p.m., firefighters continued to assess the damage. Fitzpatrick said they were working with the utility companies and the Office of Emergency Management to determine whether any of the families would be able to return to the home this afternoon.
No firefighter injuries were reported.
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