Pocono News Section

13-Year-Old Boy Dies in Pike County Fire

13-Year-Old Boy Dies in Pike County Fire - Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 4:49PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 @ 04:49pm EST
LEHMAN TWP., PIKE COUNTY- State police are looking for what caused a fatal Pike County fire. A 13-year-old boy was killed while his older sister barely escaped in Lehman Township.

The house caught fire at about 8:30 Monday night. The news reached neighbors quickly. Joe Scibetta of Lehman Township says, "Sure it's unfortunate. 13-year-old's usually doesn't get caught in the fire. Usually hidden from stuff like that."

State police say the boy’s mother and father were not home when the fire started. His older sister survived the fire by jumping out the second story window.

Some people at the American Legion in Lehman Township couldn't believe it. Helen Smith of Lehman Township says, "Yeah, very, very sad, yeah."

The home is in a the gated Pocono Ranchlands community. Neighbors say many people commute from here to New York City for work. State police wouldn't confirm where the parents work.

But one neighbor says that's why the parents weren't home. A community center is that neighbor's solution. "When the parents get out of work, close at a reasonable time, 5, 6:00. Boom, they're kids are cared for. That's a problem in these communities, there's no where for these kids to go," says James Funzalida.

State Police are still investigating the fire's cause. On Tuesday, the cause was still undetermined.