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One Dead After Fire in Monroe County

CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — At least one person is dead after a fire in Monroe County. Crews were called to the home at the corner of James Road and John...

CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- At least one person is dead after a fire in Monroe County.

Crews were called to the home at the corner of James Road and Johns Road in Chestnuthill Township around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

According to the fire marshal, a man lived there alone.

The home near Effort is destroyed.

The Monroe County coroner says the victim was in his 50s.

The coroner said the man was found in the basement of the home.

Neighbors say the victim was friendly. He lived alone and kept to himself.

"I walked out the door, saw the fog, thought it was fog, and it was the house. The house was totally blazed. I saw his pickup truck there, so I knew he was in there, and that's basically all I know," said neighbor Carl Dangren.

Fire officials say when they arrived, the house was up in flames and smoke filled the street.

"First engine saw heavy fire throughout the entire house, and at that point, it was exterior operations only. There was no chance we can get people to go in and do any search due to the heavy fire at that point," said West End Fire Lt. Tim Burlew.

A state police fire marshal says there's too much damage to determine a cause just yet, but they were focusing on the back of the home in the garage area.

"I came out on the porch, and I heard popping and a big boom, and it was up in flames," said Samantha Springer.

Springer lives right next door. She says the man who lived in this house was friendly though he kept to himself and lived alone.

"I lived here 30 years, and I know him from passing. We would say hi and that's about it. He was a homebody and kept to himself."

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.

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