A homeowner discovered someone was stuck in his chimney after he started a fire Saturday afternoon.

According to KSEE, the man inside the chimney had apparently tried to break into the home by climbing down the chimney but had gotten stuck.

"He had tried to light a fire in his fireplace and he had heard somebody calling out for help in the chimney" Fresno County sheriff's Deputy Jake Jensen told KSEE.

The homeowner put out the fire and contacted firefighters. Emergency crews responded within a few minutes and dismantled the chimney.

The suspect died before rescuers could reach him.

"I've been a deputy for almost 17 years now, and I've never seen anything like this," Jensen said.

The suspect, who is described as in his early 20s, has not yet been identified.

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Angie McBrayer, ex-wife of James Aaron McBrayer, leans her head on her son Sam McBrayer as she and her three children and two grandchildren (from left) Jackson McBrayer, 3, Piper Jae McBrayer, 7, Katy Isaza, and Jordan McBrayer, visit the grave of James McBrayer, Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Tifton. He died after being restrained by Tift County sheriff's deputies on April 24, 2019. His ex-wife witnessed the arrest and said she thought the deputies were being rough but did not imagine that McBrayer would die. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC