ROME, Pa. — One man died in a fire overnight in Bradford County.
Firefighters were called to Pleasant Street in Rome around midnight.
The fire chief tells us people tried to rescue the victim, but the flames were too intense. The home was destroyed.
The fire chief tells Newswatch 16 the homeowner did not make it out.
He was identified by state police as Guy Abell.
A neighbor says she and her husband saw the flames and tried to help.
"My husband grabbed the phone and called 911. He ran up to the house, but by the time he got there, it was already gone. I mean, you could just see the flame shooting up inside, and he knocked on the window, and no response. He yelled his name several times, and we just knew it was too late."
Wendy Payne lives nearby and had heard about the fire.
"I was worried because my dad lives on this road," Payne said. "And I know pretty much all the people on the street. I grew up here, so I used to rent from him."
The fire chief says it's no surprise that the neighbors weren't able to get the homeowner out when they arrived. The flames were 30 to 40 feet in the air.
Neighbors say this is a big loss for a small community.
"It's very heartbreaking. You would always see him walk on the roads, always a hi, yep, always a smile."
"I've known him for years. It's just very sad and tragic," Payne added.
A state police fire marshal is investigating, but troopers say they have not found any signs of foul play.
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