A man had to be forcibly pulled from a burning pickup Saturday night in Butler after he suffered an apparent drug overdose in the truck, authorities said.

The fire in the truck's engine compartment possibly started when his foot momentarily became lodged on the gas pedal in the 400 block of Zeigler Avenue.

The man, whose name was not immediately available, had no visible injuries but he was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital to be examined. His condition was not known.

Butler police are investigating but a report was not available.

A neighbor called 911 about 8 p.m. after seeing the fire. Butler firefighters got there quickly but they did not know if anyone was in the smaller model Chevy pickup, fire officials said.

"The engine compartment was fully involved," said Capt. Kevin MaAfee of the Butler Fire Department, "but there was too much smoke to tell if the fire was contained to the engine compartment."

Shortly before the fire call, someone in the neighborhood reported hearing the revving of an engine. A South Butler volunteer firefighter who lives nearby also alerted city firemen that someone could be in the truck.

Once crews hit the flames with water, the smoke thickened before dissipating. Firefighters rushed to the pickup and eventually saw the man in the driver's seat.

"I was totally shocked," McAfee said.

"But the guy was moving and alive."

Firefighters opened both front doors and noticed little if any fire damage in the passenger compartment.

The man in the truck did not appear to be burned or suffering inhalation. But he appeared to be disoriented and he became combative with rescuers.

"He was literally pulling back," McAfee said. "He didn't want to get out of the truck."

Firefighters had to pull the man out. But once out of the truck, he refused to get one the ground to allow a medical crew to examine him.

City police officers had to step in and force him onto the ground.

Authorities said the man exhibited signs of drug impairment. Investigators also found suspected drug contraband on him and in the truck.

The truck's engine compartment was destroyed and the vehicle is considered totaled. It was later towed.

McAfee speculated the fire could have started when the engine overheated after the man's foot got caught on the gas pedal.

The suspected overdose, meanwhile, was the fourth one in Butler on Saturday. One of the victims died at a house on Church Street.