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Authorities ID man killed in Lawrence Co. house fire

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Firefighters rushed into a burning home to rescue a man in Lawrence County Friday, but it wasn’t enough.

The blaze was reported at a house on Lathrop Street in New Castle.

The fire chief said firefighters pulled 61-year-old Lewis Sheffield out of the house, but he died a few minutes later.

Investigators said Sheffield was asleep in his upstairs bedroom when a power strip malfunctioned and started a fire in the living room.

Sheffield’s bedroom was directly above the fire, and officials said he may have not even heard the smoke detectors going off.

It’s believed Sheffield died of smoke inhalation, officials said.