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Nov. 23--At least one Hamburg area resident was killed in a Tuesday night house fire that began in the home's basement, authorities said.
The fire began about 7:30 p.m. in the 300 block of Clayton Avenue in Tilden Township, just west of Hamburg, according to a witness on the scene. The Berks County coroner was called shortly after the fire was under control, a county radio dispatcher said.
"I saw fire shooting out of the roof," said Candace Deck of the 200 block of Clayton Avenue. "There must be five or six fire companies here, and two ambulances, maybe three. There is a possibility someone was trapped in the basement."
At 8:40 p.m., Deck said the flames were gone, but smoke continued to rise from the house, a short block from her home. She said the firefighters had to bring water to the scene in tankers.
State troopers from Hamburg were investigating the fire. A police spokesman said he was not sure troopers would provide more information later Tuesday.
