A 37-year-old Allentown man died in a fire that broke out early Monday in a vacant South Whitehall Township home, the Lehigh County coroner said.
Coroner Daniel A. Buglio identified the victim as Christopher R. Forsythe. Buglio said Forsythe was removed from the home by firefighters, but pronounced dead at 5 a.m.
An autopsy revealed the cause of death as smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. The manner of death is pending investigation.
The fire broke out after 4 a.m. in the 2800 block of Helen Street, according to a news release from Buglio.
In addition to the Lehigh County coroner’s office, the incident is under investigation by South Whitehall Township police and the state police fire marshal.
Responding agencies included the Woodlawn Fire Department, Greenawalds Fire Department, Cetronia Fire Department, Tri-Clover Fire Company, Western Salisbury Fire Company, Cetronia Ambulance Corps, Upper Macungie Township Fire Company, Coplay Fire Department, Catasauqua Fire Department and Neffs Fire Company.