Pocono News Section

Fire starts in a home while owner is at hospital

Fire starts in a home while owner is at hospital - Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 2:24PM EST

Sunday, Mar 7, 2010 @ 03:24pm EST

A Sunday morning fire ruined most of a home at 8 Clyde Street in West Pittston .

The homes owner, Skip Lakey was at the hospital when something he left behind started a fire.

West Pittston fire chief John Janczewski said the fire was accidental.

"It's a kerosene heater, parked right next to the couch," said Janczewski.

Neighbor and former business partner Jim DeAngelo tells Eyewitness News Lakey went to the hospital with chest pains Saturday.

Fire crews say his kerosene heater was left on.

Lakey owns PO ' Boys Appliance Repair and DeAngelo says he's a fixture in the community.

"Skip’s a really nice guy. I mean, he's just a nice guy, he'd do anything for anybody," said DeAngelo.

Deangelo said Lakey has been in and out of the hospital with kidney issues lately.

"This is another headache for him on top of everything else," said DeAngelo.

Fire crews say Lakey had a pet cat but it's not clear if it made it out.