Jul 26, 2015 2 min read

A Monongahela man was pronounced dead Sunday at Monongahela Valley Hospital about an hour after calling 911 to report a fire inside his Lawton Street home.

Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said the victim, James Huffstickler, 67, was found on the second floor of the home after making the call to report the fire. He and his mother, 95-year-old Esther Huffstickler, who also resides in the home, were taken to the hospital. James Huffstickler was pronounced dead at 4:13 a.m. Esther Huffstickler, who was staying on the first floor, was outside the home when firefighters arrived.

Monongahela fire Chief Aaron Leezer said James Huffstickler called about 3:10 a.m. to report the fire. When firefighters arrived, flames had engulfed the first-floor living room and smoke was pouring from the rest of the house, the chief said.

“We tried to gain entry but were unable to,” Leezer said. “We put a ladder up to the second floor and found him in what I believe was his bedroom.”

“Once we are to get a line on the fire, we were able to knock it down quickly,” the chief added. “We were able to contain the fire to the living room. There was no fire extension into the rest of the house.”

Leezer said firefighters had no issues fighting the fire, however a Monongahela firefighter was taken to the hospital as a precaution after suffering smoke inhalation.

Trooper Eric Graham, a state police fire marshal, said the cause of the fire is undetermined.

Warco said an autopsy will be done to determine the cause and manner of death.

Monongahela Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Carroll Township and New Eagle as well as the Bentleyville Volunteer Fire Department’s Rapid Intervention Team. Also responding were crews from Tri-Community and Jefferson Hill ambulance services and Monongahela police.