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Pocono News Section
55-Year-Old Man Dies in 2nd Luzerne Co. Fire
55-Year-Old Man Dies in 2nd Luzerne Co. Fire - Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 6:25PM EST
Reported by: David DeCosmo
Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 @06:25pm EST
DURYEA, LUZERNE COUNTY- A smoky fire in Duryea claimed the live of one man early Thursday morning and two emergency responders were involved in an accident as they answered that alarm.
Fire units from Duryea and Avoca were called the house on Main Street in Duryea's 5th ward shortly before 3 a.m.
Neighbors called 911 when they spotted smoke coming from the home.
Excelsior Hose Company Chief Jeff Hughes explained "We had reports of entrapment. As soon as the companies arrived we got the lines stretched. Our ladder company made a search on the first and second floor along with rescue companies from Avoca. We located the victim within 4 minutes into the fire when we arrived. We got him out the back and got him in to the hands of EMS. Unfortunately he didn't make it. The companies made a great attempt to get him out but, unfortunately it went the wrong way."
The victim was identified as 55-year-old Ronald Mateyka. Fire officials tell us he died from smoke inhalation.
An ambulance responding to the scene was damaged in an accident. The unit, from Hughestown, collided with a tractor as it rushed to the fire. The ambulance was totaled. The male and female EMT team inside were taken to area hospitals to be checked.
"Both victims that were in the ambulance were OK. One of them was released and the other was being treated" added Chief Hughes.
Officials from the Hughestown Hose Company tell us both members of the medical team are all right.
The house was heavily damaged by the fire. A Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall has determined that the blaze started in the basement and was electrical in nature. Fire officials tell us there were no working smoke detectors in this home in Duryea. | | |
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