News

Man found dead in Pitcairn house fire

PITCAIRN, Pa. — A man was killed in a house fire on Wall Avenue in Pitcairn.

Firefighters were called to the home around 3 p.m. Friday where much of the first floor was involved in flames when crews arrived. Multiple fire departments responded.

Several people reportedly attempted to get into the home through the front door, but were unable due to intense heat and smoke.

"I heard (a neighbor) came over with a sledge hammer and tried to break the door down,” neighbor Francis Cole said.

Channel 11's Mike Holden reported a man was found dead in the home near the rear of the home. He was sitting in a chair.

"Upon searching the structure, unfortunately there was a victim found and has passed away as a result of the fire,” Chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services Matt Brown said

Neighbors said the man killed in the fire was nice and kept to himself.

Pictures showed flames shooting from a second story window, and firefighters on a ladder trying to put them out.

"They had flames pretty much coming out of every door and every window. Particularly first floor," Brown said.

Heat and flames caused the windows to shatter and roof to collapse. The fire even caused the aluminum siding to melt off of a neighboring home.

The home was surrounded in thick, black smoke.

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause.

The victim’s name has not been released.