Elderly man dies today in New Castle, Pa., fire

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — An 84-year-old man died and his wife is being treated after she for suffered severe smoke inhalation after an early morning fire in their Neshannock Township residence.

The Lawrence County coroner pronounced Conway Brown dead at the scene, and his wife, Alvira, was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, according to the Neshannock Police Department. A St. Elizabeth spokeswoman said the hospital had no record of her.

A New Castle police officer was the first to arrive at the 1:18 a.m. today blaze at 205 Worthington Ave., and he entered the rear of the house despite flames and heavy smoke.

Other New Castle police and Neshannock police entered through the front door, but before the occupants could be located, heavy smoke forced all police out of the structure, Neshannock Police said.

The deceased could be seen through a window, lying on the floor in the rear bedroom, where the fire originated. His wife was rescued from a front room.

The fire is believed to be of accidental electrical origin, police said. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.