An early-morning blaze claimed the life of an elderly man in the Marion Rotary Towers on Delaware Avenue. Firefighters, who were dispatched just before 2:30 a.m. this morning, encountered heavy smoke billowing from the third floor of the 10-story building, as reported by ABC6. Responders located the victim, unresponsive, within his apartment, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim, found in a wheelchair, had been removed swiftly by firefighters and, despite attempts at resuscitation, was confirmed deceased shortly thereafter. Around ten other residents were assessed for smoke inhalation, with one individual hospitalized due to minor injuries, officials told NBC4i. Furthermore, another person was transported for an unrelated medical episode.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, however, the fire department has highlighted smoking with oxygen as a strong possible origin for the fire, according to information from WBNS. Following the extinguishment of the fire, efforts were made to overhaul the affected area and ventilate the stairwells to ensure the safety and comfort of the remaining residents.
