Man trapped in burning theater after starting fire in Porterville, crews say

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A antheral astir perished aft starting a blaze of his ain making astatine Porterville's historical Porter Theater aboriginal Sunday morning, occurrence crews say.

The Porterville Fire Department says they arrived connected country to flames breaching the extortion connected the northbound broadside of the gathering astir 4:50 a.m.

As firefighters worked to summation entree to the structure, they accidental they heard frantic banging from the inside. After removing the boards from a door, they rescued 43-year-old Anthony Drew.

Drew was transported to Sierra View Medical Center for further valuation and attraction and is expected to retrieve - but, officials accidental helium is present facing charges for starting a fire.

The occurrence caused important structural harm took crews respective hours to control. Investigation, revealed that was suspicious successful quality and quality caused; they judge the culprit was the antheral they rescued, 43-year-old Anthony Drew.

The lawsuit was forwarded to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office wherever Drew was charged with unlawfully causing a occurrence of a structure.