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One Dead After Fire at Apartment House

LEHMAN TOWNSHIP — State police from Blooming Grove said a fire began just after noon Wednesday at Keystone Residential Service, Incorporated, a house divi...

LEHMAN TOWNSHIP -- State police from Blooming Grove said a fire began just after noon Wednesday at Keystone Residential Service, Incorporated, a house divided into apartments for the mentally handicapped and low income residents off Bushkill Falls Road in Pike County.

"We have a multi-family residential up there, one fatality, unknown name yet. It`s not being released, it`s a male," said Corporal Warren Grabher of the state police.

Investigators said the man who died was living in a second floor apartment, where the fire started.

State police said it seems to have been accidental, but a fire marshall is still investigating.

"I think that`s really sad, you know? It`s supposed to be a safe place, hopefully it was nothing to do with being unkept at the home," said Crystal Ruiz, who lives near Bushkill.

The Red Cross is helping about a dozen people who lived in the home find other places to stay.

Newswatch 16 spoke with one of the residents who was away when the fire started.

"I don`t know, it`s pretty terrible," said Harold Learn, who arrived home to find his building on fire.

Harold Learn said he and his wife lived in the building with their two cats.

They did not know the man who died but said they are upset something like this has happened at their home, which they said has always been a peaceful place.

"Yeah it was, it was until this happened, it was a nice place," said Learn.

Investigators said one other person who lived in the building was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

A firefighter was taken, as well for respiratory issues from fighting the fire.

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