A photograph of the aftermath of a fatal 1981 fire at 658 E. Main Street, Hegins, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in which 26-year-old Paul L. Klinger lost his life.
The fire was reported in the Pottsville Republican of 6 June 1981:
Hegins man dies in blaze
A 26-year-old Hegins man died this morning as a result of a fire at his home and neighboring buildings which took firemen from five fire companies about four hours to extinguish. He was the county’s fourth fire victim of the year.
Two others escaped unharmed, although a fireman was injured.
Paul L. Klinger, 658 Main Street, Hegins, died in the fire, which was reported about 4 a.m. When firemen first arrived at the scene, they were told that Klinger was in his residence but were unable to find him immediately. Later, firemen found him lying on the first floor near the back door in the kitchen.
Earl Runkle, a member of the Hegins Fire Police, said that Barry Palmer, a Tri-Valley High School teacher, unsuccessfully administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Klinger when he was first taken from the structure. Palmer was on the scene before the Tri-Valley Ambulance, Valley View, assisted.
Klinger, who reportedly worked for the Kocher Coal Company, has a son, Paul Klinger Jr., who was spending the night with his grandfather, Tim Klinger, Hegins area.
Lee L. Hauck, and his wife Dorothy Hauck, who live at 656 E. Main Street, escaped unharmed. Fire damage in the 656-658 duplex was mostly to the top floor of the two-story structure in the ceiling, walls and attic areas.
Charlie Smith, a fireman, fell off a back roof while fighting the fire and cut his finger, but was to have X-rays taken later.
Dr. Donald Malick was also at scene treating fire fighters, but mostly spectators, for smoke inhalation.
Hegins, Valley View, Sacramento, Klingerstown fire companies fought the blaze along with the snorkel truck from Schuylkill Haven.
Also damaged in the early morning blaze were 652 and 654 E. Main Street, two buildings used for storage by Elsie’s Ceramics Shop. The ground floors of those buildings sustained water damage, while the top floors were scarred by fire.
State Police Fire Marshal Larry Postupak from the Pottsville Barracks was investigating the cause of the fatal blaze. Firemen fought the fire until about 8 a.m. and electricity in the area was out until about 10 a.m.
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Photo and article from Newspapers.com.