Man dies in fire at machine shop

Authorities believe the victim was trying to get his truck out of the burning building.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SANDY LAKE, Pa. -- Authorities are searching for the cause of a blaze that claimed the life of a 72-year-old Sandy Lake Township man.
Robert J. Love, 72, of 6111 Sandy Lake-Polk Road, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday by Scott A. Black, Mercer County deputy coroner.
An autopsy will be done today to determine the exact cause of death.
Robert Knauss, Sandy Lake fire chief, said the cause of the fire at Love's Machine Shop is undetermined. A state police fire marshal is assisting in the investigation.
Knauss said Love was the only person in the shop around the time of the fire, which was reported at 1:13 p.m.
The 100-by-40-foot shop is about 50 feet from his house, Knauss said.
The Loves were preparing to leave home, and Love went to the shop to get his pickup truck out of the garage portion of the building. When he didn't come back within a few minutes, his wife looked out the window and saw flames coming from the shop, Knauss said. She called 911, he said.
The rear of the machine shop portion of the building was ablaze when firefighters reached the scene, Knauss said, indicating the fire started in the shop.
Love was found inside his pickup truck, which firefighters took as an indication that he was trying to get the truck out of the building , Knauss said.
Firefighters were on the scene for five hours, he said, adding that the building suffered extensive damage.
Fire crews from Stoneboro, Polk, Sheakleyville and Jackson Center assisted at the scene.