EMPORIUM – A 43-year-old Emporium man lost his life following an
electrical fire at his residence at 2029 Sizerville Road early
Thursday morning.

Timothy Austin was pronounced dead at Elk Regional Health Center
at 4:50 a.m. Thursday, according to Elk County Coroner Lou
Radkowski. The cause of death was asphyxiation.

According to Emporium Fire Chief Butch Housler, at 3:10 a.m.
Thursday, a passerby in a tractor-trailer notified Elk County
Control that flames were visible at the residence at 2029
Sizerville Road and that there was possibly someone trapped
inside.

Emporium Volunteer Fire Department responded and found flames
coming from the rear of the structure. Assistant Chief Philip Reed,
first on the scene, also reported someone may have been trapped in
the structure and instructed the responders to search for
occupants.

Interior firefighters forced their way into the home,
encountering heavy smoke and heat, and found Austin in the far
front bedroom on the bed.

Austin was taken from the residence where the Cameron County
Ambulance personnel began resuscitation attempts. Austin was then
transported to Elk Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced
dead.

State police Fire Marshal Dennis Haines conducted an
investigation and ruled the fire accidental, electrical in nature,
and starting in the area of the electric hot water tank, Housler
said.

The fire department was assisted on the scene by the Cameron
County Ambulance. The St. Marys Fire Department was dispatched to
stand by at the Emporium Fire Hall.