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Westmoreland Co. Man Dies In Morning Blaze

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Mar 11, 2010 12:20 pm US/Eastern

Westmoreland Co. Man Dies In Morning Blaze

DERRY (KDKA) ― One man died and another person had to be evacuated after a fire broke out at an apartment building in Derry Thursday morning.

At 2:30 a.m. 217 North Chestnut in Derry erupted in flames.

"I was up cleaning and that's when I heard this big explosion. I opened the curtains saw flames coming out 25 to 30 feet," Mike Sulkosky said.

As flames consumed the three unit wood-frame apartment building, police and firefighters rescued the two residents. One survived and the other later died at the hospital.

The victim has been identified as James Gamble, 60.

"The fire started in the downstairs apartment, [in the] rear bedroom. There happened to be an oxygen bottle there. The oxygen bottle discharged and helped spread the flame. It also made it to a propane tank located on the back porch on the gas grill and that subsequently became a blow torch," Chief Brock Dwire said.

The building suffered a partial collapse. No firefighters were injured and the victim told police about what he was doing prior to the fire starting.

"He did tell the ambulance crew and police officer when he made it to the front door that he was smoking in bed," Chief Dwire said.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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