HURON, California — A man has died after being stuck inside of a chimney at a home he was trying to burglarize, police said.
Just before 3:00 pm Saturday, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home on the 16000 block of W. Gale Ave. in Huron.
A homeowner reported that when he lit a fire in his fireplace, he heard a man yell from inside the chimney. At this same time, the house began to fill with smoke. The homeowner worked to put the fire out as dispatchers sent firefighters with Cal Fire – Fresno County to the home.
Approximately ten minutes after the initial call, the suspect appeared to still be breathing and moving inside the chimney. A short time later, firefighters dismantled the chimney in an attempt to rescue the suspect, however, it was discovered that he was dead.
A preliminary investigation shows that the suspect had climbed into the chimney overnight in an attempt to burglarize the home and became stuck. The homeowner came home today after being gone yesterday, so he did not know anyone was inside the chimney prior to lighting the fire.
The Coroner’s Office has removed the man’s body from the scene. An autopsy will be performed to determine his identity, a cause and manner of death.
This is an ongoing investigation.
