Marshal to probe house fire

An official said the victim was alone when the fire started.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal has been called in to investigate the cause of a fire that claimed the life of Heath E. Fry, 35.
Heath, of R.D. 1, died when fire struck his home Friday morning on Pa. Route 158 just off Pa. Route 18 in Wilmington Township.
Gary Wagner, assistant New Wilmington fire chief, said Fry lived in the two-story frame home with his wife and two children, but only he was home when the fire broke out about 6:40 a.m.
The children had spent the night at a relative's home, and Fry's wife had gone to pick them up when the fire started, Wagner said.
Neighbors spotted the smoke and called in the alarm just before 7 a.m., but firefighters reaching the scene had no idea that anyone was still inside the building, Wagner said.
Body found
Firefighters found Fry's body later in a laundry room at the back of the house, he said.
There was an exterior door in that room and steps leading to the upper floor. Wagner said he didn't know if Fry was trying to escape the fire by going to that location.
The blaze started in the living room and was confined to that area though the whole house suffered smoke and heat damage, he said.
The fire marshal determined the blaze was accidental but hadn't pinpointed the exact cause as of Friday afternoon, Wagner said.
A cause of death for Fry wasn't immediately available. Wagner said an autopsy may be planned to make that determination. Russell Noga, acting Lawrence County coroner, couldn't be reached to comment.
Wagner said firefighters from Volant assisted New Wilmington.