Chained man rescued from Crystal Lake fire

A man chained by his neck to a post in the basement of a burning home was rescued by Crystal Lake firefighters Tuesday morning.

The fully clothed 55-year-old man insisted he was not the victim of a crime and walked out of the basement on his own, according to police, who say they're continuing to investigate the episode.

Firefighters arrived at 1398 Dolo Rosa Vista at 7:51 a.m. for reports of a house fire and were met by three people who'd already left the building.

They said someone remained inside in the basement. Firefighters found the man with a chain locked around his neck, with the other end attached to a post with a padlock.

After they used a bolt cutter to free the man, he was taken to an area hospital and treated for smoke inhalation, police said.

The man told police "he was voluntarily in that position and maintains that he was not a victim of a crime."

Both the cause of the fire and the situation with the chained man are under investigation by police.