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At 5:51 PM the Duluth Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire at 1425 89th Ave W in the Morgan Park neighborhood.  The dispatcher stated that there was heavy smoke coming from the house and there was a male still inside the house.

Upon arrival 10E from the Gary/New Duluth Fire Station found a male sitting outside the house covered in soot and coughing heavily.  A neighbor, Christopher Umbarger had noticed the smoke coming from the residence and heard his neighbor, Thomas Kytola, calling for help.  He knew that Thomas had a bad ankle so he entered the home to try and help.  His first entry was unsuccessful but after going back outside, he saw Thomas next to a window.  Mr Umbarger went in a second time and helped Mr Koytola over near the door but was getting overcome by the smoke and had to leave him just inside the doorway.  Mr. Umbarger then had his sons grab Mr. Kytola and pull him to safety.

The fire itself was small and involved only a small refrigerator and some debris around it.  It was extinguished quickly by firefighters with just a water extinguisher.  The smoke that filled the house was very thick and black.  It made visibility almost zero inside the structure. 

Thomas Kytola was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.  If Mr Umbarger had not been able to get Mr Kytola out when he did his injuries would have been much more extensive.  No firefighters were injured in the fire.  The damage to the house was limited to smoke damage of about $10,000 for both contents and structure.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time but is under investigation by the Duluth Fire Marshalls office.