WILSON, Pa. – A Wilson Borough firefighter is home recovering after a close call.

The longtime first responder was seriously hurt while trying to help residents escape from burning building in downtown Easton and he’s already thinking about when he can return back to duty.

“Bobby Lewullis is basically a big goofball,” said Wilson Borough Fire Chief Joseph Sipel. “He’s just normally a happy guy.”

Lewullis returned home from the hospital Monday afternoon.

Sipel said he’s in good spirits, thanks to an outpour of support from local first responders.

“Bobby has no recollection of what actually happened,” said Sipel. “His injuries that they found were basically injuries consistent with falling 20 feet from the ladder.”

Lewullis was searching for victims stuck inside of a flaming downtown Easton boarding home.

“It was a very chaotic scene,” said Sipel.

The several-story building caught fire and struck three-alarms, before it displaced dozens, ruined businesses and shook the city to its core.

“Lewullis called a ‘mayday’, stated he was running out of air,” explained Sipel. “He had about 20% to 25% left of his air.”

Sipel said Lewullis knew he had to get out.

“He got to the third floor. Got disoriented. It was a very cut up building with a lot of doorways and hallways going to different spots,” said Sipel.

Sipel explains that as Lewullis was climbing out of the window, “he just stepped off the ladder and fell straight down.”

A hard fall, nearly 20 feet down to the ground, but Lewullis was conscious and talking to first responders.

“At the hospital, they did their normal test x-rays. He did have smoke inhalation, because he was in the building for approximately 10 minutes without any air,” said Sipel.

Sipel checked in with Lewullis on the phone on Tuesday morning.

“All the other departments, it’s been great. Everybody’s calling asking about him,” said Sipel.

Amid his journey to full recovery, Lewullis has a message of his own.

“He wanted to make sure everybody remembers the people that live there that were injured and lost their homes and continued with their prayers for them,” said Sipel.

Lewullis is hoping to be back at the firehouse in four to six months with a smooth recovery.

Easton Fire Chief Henry Hennings said the fire remains under investigation.