Forward Township fire victim identified

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the identity of a man who died during a Tuesday night house fire in the Gallatin-Sunnyside section of Forward Township.
Robert Morgan, 75, was found dead inside the burning home, according to the medical examiner’s report. He was pronounced dead at 10 p.m., but the report shows that he died around 5:30 p.m.
A cause and manner of death were not released prior to presstime.
Gallatin-Sunnyside Volunteer Fire Company arrived at the burning two-story house near the corner of Locust Avenue and Morgan Run Road 5:44 p.m. Tuesday.
On scene, firefighters discovered that flames were shooting out of the roof and the left side of the house. The fire spread to the home next door.
Initially, firefighters and neighbors believed that no one was inside of either home, according to Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Matt Brown.
He said there were “heavy flames” when firefighters arrived on scene, and added that they tried to attack the fire from inside of the home. When flames and smoke became thicker and the second floor began sagging due to heavy fire damage, all crews were notified to evacuate, Brown said Tuesday night.
On Wednesday evening, Brown said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. He said the point of origin appears to be the basement, but added that the fire marshal’s office will have to excavate the ground in and around the basement before investigations conclude.
“It will likely take a few days before there is anything further to report,” Brown said.

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