Staff Writer

A Union man was airlifted to the hospital Thursday night after firefighters pulled him from his smoking home.

Wallace L. Salter, 53, received smoke inhalation burns in the fire on 202 Lawson Ave. that was reported around 8:10 p.m. He was treated at the scene by medics with Union County EMS and taken by helicopter to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. A spokeswoman at the hospital this morning said Salter had been released.

Lt. Phil Moore, City of Union fire commander, said Sgt. Larry Robinson was on a search mission in the house and found Salter in a closet. Robinson, Officer Rusty Young and volunteer firefighter Vic Kingsmore brought Salter out. He was taken by ambulance to the Disney Distribution Center in Jonesville and Regional 1, the medical transport helicopter, landed there.

The fire was started by something burning in a trash can in the kitchen, Moore said. Firefighters contained the blaze to the kitchen. Damage was estimated at $12,000. The house is owned by Russell Brooks. Salter's sister, Tammy Gallman, said she was renting to own the house.

Moore said there were no smoke detectors in the structure.