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

Firefighters arrived at the 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 in a chair suffering from life-threatening burns. The fire report said an upholstered couch, chair and vehicle seats were among the first items to catch fire.

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.

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

“At first I didn’t know what was happening, then I saw all this smoke coming through my apartment. I was choking and gagging,” the neighbor told 21 News.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the burn victim, but the fire chief reported that the man used an oxygen device. According to their findings, “improper use of materials” contributed to the fire. The neighbor shared the same suspicions.

“He had to smoke, he had to smoke for that smoke to go through my apartment like that. It scared me to death,” the neighbor said.

Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, firefighters requested a New Castle Police detective to investigate the incident.