Elderly man dies, wife injured in Mercer County house fire
The Pennsylvania Fire Marshal is investigating after a 73-year-old man died and his wife was injured in what was reported as an explosion and fire at a Mercer County home.
A woman called 9-1-1 at 1 a.m. Thursday to report that her house “blew up”. The woman also said that she and a male at the home were burned at the two-story home on the 2500 block of Mercer Butler Pike in Liberty Township.
Firefighters from Butler, Mercer, and Venango counties were dispatched to the address.
The first firefighter to arrive reported flames coming from the home.
Coroner John Libonati identified the victim as Robert Vatter, whose wife helped him get out of the burning house. The coroner is still working to determine an official cause of death.
Libonati tells 21 News that Vatter was using oxygen, but it isn't known if that played any part in the fire.
Vatter's wife is being treated for burns at a hospital. There is no word on her condition.
State police say they expect to release more information later Thursday.