Fire in Old Forge Leaves One Man Dead

Old Forge, Lackawanna County - One man is dead and another is in the hospital after a fire broke out in their Old Forge Home.  Fire crews say the deadly fires started in the second floor of their home.

Old Forge Police Officer, Jason Dubernas explains what happened, "I was the first officer here.  Multiple neighbors were screaming that two males were inside of the structure." Those two men were 60-year-old Joseph Casella and his younger brother Jim. Flames broke out just before 5:00 Friday evening at their Fallon Street home in Old Forge.

Old Forge Fire Chief, Mark Tagliaterra says, "When I got here police were pulling out one victim.  My guys came in.  They did a quick search, got the line in place and found the second victim.  They pulled him down off the ladders and put him with EMS." Officer Dubernas was able to help Jim, but Joseph, who was handicapped wasn't so lucky. Joseph was taken to a local hospital where he died.

Neighbors including Dave Hastings said the two men never bothered anyone, "I've known them probably 50 years and I knew their parents and they just kept to themselves." The Fire Chief believes the flames broke out on the second floor, leaving the home unlivable.

The State Fire Marshal was on scene investigating how the fire started.