Authorities say a suspected burglar has died after getting stuck in a chimney in Central California.
Fresno County Sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Pursell said a homeowner in the rural town of Huron heard someone yell after lighting a fire in his fireplace Saturday afternoon and alerted authorities.
Pursell said the homeowner tried to put out the fire as his house began to fill with smoke. Firefighters who rushed to the house used jackhammers to break open the brick chimney, but when they got to the man he died.
Pursell said the man was responsive during the rescue.
Investigators will conduct an autopsy Sunday to determine the man’s identity and the cause of his death.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Cause of death: Gross Stupidity with co-incident Gross Morbidity.