Man dies after fire in New Kensington home

A man died in a fire late Saturday morning in New Kensington, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson.

The fire was reported about 11:45 a.m. Saturday at 723 Kennedy Ave. A man and a 4-year-old child were inside, according to Ed Saliba Jr., chief of the New Kensington Fire Department.

Police officers were able to find the child, who was not injured.

However, the man was trapped, according to Saliba, and after being rescued was taken by ambulance to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Carson said the man died, but the coroner could not confirm his identity.

Tax records show the home is owned by Scott Fularz.

A family of six lives at the house — two adults and four children, according to Nicole Tort, a neighbor.

The fire was out in about 15 minutes but there was a “considerable amount of damage to the inside of the structure,” Saliba said. The fire broke out on the first floor of the two-story house.

Neighbor Tim Hines said he smelled smoke just before noon and called 911. The smoke appeared to come from the back of the house. He said the family lived next door for about three years.

“I can’t say enough about how well these firefighters worked to do their search-and-rescue and also put the fire out,” Saliba said.

Saliba said it appears the fire was accidental. The cause is being investigated by a state police fire marshal.