HARBORCREEK, Pa. — An Erie County firefighter has died after being injured by malfunctioning firefighting equipment.

He was 24-year-old Michael Crotty, who has been an Erie city firefighter since January and also volunteered as a deputy fire chief for the suburb of Lawrence Park.

Crotty was doing the volunteer job when he fought Tuesday afternoon's fire at Port Erie Plastics in Harborcreek Township.

The fire broke out in wooden and plastic pallets stored outside a building.

Crotty was pronounced dead at Hamot Medical Center. An autopsy is planned for today.

No further details were available.