Fire marshal investigating fatal Central City blaze

Jan. 24—CENTRAL CITY, Pa. — It may take time to determine the cause and origin of a house fire that killed one man early Sunday morning in Central City, fire officials said.

Central City fire Chief Dale Russian said the home in the 700 block of Broad Avenue sustained heavy damage, including a partial collapse of its second floor.

The damage contributed to a "complicated situation" for investigators who are trying to determine what started the fire, he said.

Russian said the fire accelerated quickly through the home.

"It's not necessarily a suspicious (fire)," he said.

"It's just a complex situation, and that's why we call the state police (fire marshal). ... They have the expertise, and we can let them do what they do."

Lawrence Bumbera, 79, was found dead in the home. An autopsy was conducted on Sunday, but it may be weeks before the Central City man's cause of death can be confirmed, according to Somerset County Coroner Cullen Swank.

Two other people living in the home were transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown for treatment, but were released over the weekend, Russian said.

Russian said the fire damaged both levels of the home and mostly destroyed its roof.

Fire crews tried searching several areas of the home for Bumbera, but conditions quickly became dangerous, he said.

Frigid weather was an issue.

Trooper Chet Bell, a state police fire marshal based in Greensburg, said low temperatures also created issues for the investigation afterward because water sprayed on fire-damaged structures "can quickly turn into a block of ice." Bell said it will likely take time before the investigation is complete.

Russian credited Central City Methodist Church, just 15 feet from the home, for opening its doors to serve as a warming area for firefighters.

Crews were able to control the fire from the exterior before it caused damage to the church, he added.