Tamaqua police charged Danny Bowers, 33, of Tamaqua, with disorderly conduct for yelling at police and firefighters as they responded to a 10:12 p.m. Sept. 14 fire at 323 Rolling Mill Ave.

Police arrived to find smoke coming from the windows of the home, and people yelling inside the residence.

Officers said a man was inside the house spraying water from a hose into the kitchen, where he said a fire that had started in a microwave was out.

Police attempted to evacuate the home but a female refused because a dog was inside.

Officers said that the people were yelling that police were not doing anything because the fire department did not arrive.

When firefighters arrived, they helped get residents from the home safely across the street.

Police said Bowers screamed at fire personnel as they tried to gain entry, and was calling them names and telling them to do their jobs. He also yelled at police, who told him to calm down and go across the street.

When police attempted to put him in handcuffs, he pulled away, saying it was freedom of speech. Officers eventually placed him in handcuffs but he refused to walk to the patrol vehicle.

Bowers was also charged with resisting arrest and refusing to move to maintain public safety.