Careless smoking was the cause of an apartment building fire that claimed the life of a Wissinoming man on Nov. 8, according to the Philadelphia Fire Department.
The blaze began shortly before 4:30 p.m. at 5010 Comly St. Firefighters who responded to the scene observed heavy smoke billowing from the first and second floors of the three-story twin and learned that people were inside.
Firefighters reportedly rescued a 3-year-old boy from the building and declared the flames under control within several minutes. But a 53-year-old man was unable to escape. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
His identity has not been released.
The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania assisted two families totaling six people who were displaced by the disaster. ••
