A weekend fire on Peach Street (Route 19) in Waterford claimed a life.
The fire broke out around 4:00 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Route 19 and Route 86.
The destruction of the multi-unit building is extensive. Authorities tell Erie News Now that the house collapsed into the basement during the firefight, that’s when firefighters observed a body among the embers.
Around 5:20 a.m., that’s when fire officials called for a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal to investigate – a requirement when a death is involved.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said that the Mercyhurst University Anthropology Department is assisting his office in working to make a positive identification of the male fire victim. According to Cook, all signs point to the victim being a person who lived the the residence.
To date the PSP fire marshals have not issued their findings on what may have sparked the fire, nor released the name of the likely victim.
The fire rekindled Saturday evening, calling firefighters back to the scene.