SCRANTON -- An early morning house fire in south Scranton took the life of John Novoczynski, 63.
Crews responded to Hickory Street around 2 a.m. Saturday for the fire.
Someone driving by the home noticed smoke coming from the second-floor and called 911. Crews arrived on scene to find heavy smoke pouring from the house.
According to officials with the Scranton Fire Department, the fire started on the first floor.
Residents say they also noticed the smoke coming from the top floor of the house.
Jane Osborne lives next door and says, even though they weren't sure if the owner was home, they rushed to check on their neighbor.
"[I] Knocked on the front door, knocked on his back door, but he didn't answer. The windows were getting hot, and in no time, the Scranton Fire Department was here,” said Osborne.
Novoczynski was pronounced dead at the scene of the fire. The Lackawanna County coroner says an autopsy will be scheduled.
Fire crews and police are investigating what may have caused the fire in Scranton.
