A 64-year-old man was flown to Pittsburgh for treatment after receiving severe burns to 65% of his body, according to an official report from the New Castle Fire Department. 

Firefighters arrived at Riverside Apartments on Friday around 9:45 p.m. and found fire and smoke coming from the fourth floor.

Upon entering apartment 415 they found a 64-year-old man sitting on a chair with life-threatening burns. The fire report indicated that an upholstered sofa, chair, and vehicle seats were among the first items to ignite.

The 64-year-old man, who was physically disabled, was flown to a burn center in Pittsburgh. 

Firefighters were able to evacuate all residents safely, but less than 24 hours after the incident, many people remained shaken.

One woman, who lives next to the unit that caught fire but did not want to reveal her name, said she was making potato salad when smoke began pouring into her unit. 

"I didn't know what was going on at first and then I [saw] all this smoke coming through my apartment. I was choking and gagging," the neighbor told 21 News. 

Officials have not yet released the name of the burn victim, but the Fire Chief reported that the man used an oxygen machine. According to their findings, a "misuse of materials" contributed to the fire. The neighbor shared the same suspicion.

"He had to be smoking, he had to be for that smoke to go through my apartment like that. Scared me half to death," the neighbor said. 

Due to the severity of the victim's injuries, a New Castle police detective was asked by the fire department to investigate the incident.