Pocono News Section

Fire Claims Life in the Poconos

Fire Claims Life in the Poconos - Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 3:54PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008 @03:54pm EST

CANADENSIS, MONROE COUNTY- Fire claimed a man's life in the Pocono's Tuesday night. His name was Andrew Sari.

People who live on Upper Seese Hill Road in Canadensis noticed something wrong at a neighboring apartment house at about ten Tuesday night.

"I turned around and looked out my front window and the sky was bright orange and there were lights all along the street," said Sara Leister.

The Leister family ran outside and saw firefighters across the street battling flames. "They were shooting through the left side of the roof a good 20 feet, snapping and crackling," said Becky Leister.

The fire trapped a man inside the second floor apartment. Becky said, "We hoped everyone got out but learned later that the man upstairs didn't." That man was 34-year-old Andrew Sari.

Two other people lived in the apartment house. They weren't home when the fire started bit they lost most of their belongings. So now neighbors are getting together to try to help them.

"These people have been displaced and they have nothing, there is absolutely nothing," remarked Karen Willie.

Missy Horvath added, "Your heart just drops and you're just concerned for everybody getting out and being ok."

Wednesday morning Missy went door to door to meet her neighbors and start a collection for the fire victims. "Because they are our neighbors," she explained, "and nobody deserves to go through this."

Missy hopes to start a sort of neighborhood network so that if tragedy ever strikes again all the people who live in the area are ready to help each other.

If you would like to donate to the fire victims call Missy at 570-481-4130 or email [email protected].