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Firefighter rescued from Center Ave. blaze

Firefighters respond to a fire on Center Avenue in Butler Sunday.

Fire crews rescued a firefighter caught Sunday morning inside a burning building on Center Avenue in Butler.

Kevin Smith, assistant fire chief for the South Butler Volunteer Fire Department, was part of the attack crew that entered the three-story building that houses eight apartments and a restaurant.

“He got caught inside by conditions deteriorating,” said Butler Fire Department Capt. Kevin McAfee.

Smith apparently got separated from his crew and began for a way out. His called out “Mayday” on the radio when they couldn’t find him.

Outside, firefighters saw Smith handing out a third-floor window on the side of the building.

Crews quickly deployed extension ladders that were used as a bridge between the roof of an adjoining house and the building on fire to rescue Smith.

A Butler Ambulance Service crew later examined him but he was not injured, authorities said. Smith remained on duty for the rest of the fire fight.

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