Elderly man killed in SW Pa. house fire identified
WEST NEWTON (AP) – Authorities in Western Pennsylvania have released the name of an elderly man killed in an early morning fire at his southwestern Pennsylvania house.
Westmoreland County Deputy Coroner Joshua Zappone said 76-year-old Timothy Oliphant was pronounced dead at the scene just before 7 a.m. Thursday.
Emergency crews reported that the West Newton home was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
Relatives said the critically ill victim was in hospice care. His daughter, Karen Bourne, told WPXI-TV that she and her father had argued about him smoking while using oxygen.
Several firefighters were treated for minor injuries.
West Newton is located along the Monongahela River, about 20 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.