A Pennsylvania man was killed in an early Wednesday morning fire after he went back into his burning mobile home in Armstrong County in an attempt to rescue his two dogs.
The victim, 43-year-old Terry Verner, was able to escape the fire at first, but he couldn’t make it back out a second time. His cousin, Corey Pyle, was able to get out.
"There were two gentlemen sleeping in their house. The deceased went and woke up his cousin, which was in a back bedroom and they both went out of the house. When they were both out of the house, they heard a couple of dogs yelping and Mr. Verner went back in the house," said Armstrong County Deputy Coroner Brian Myers.
The home was being heated with a wood burner, which Pyle blames for causing the blaze. “I think the wood burner probably caused it. Just a tragedy. I don’t even really know what to say,” he said.
Verner’s body was discovered close to the front door of the home.
“He was found about 4-5 feet just inside the door. I’m not sure if he was coming out or going in. I think he was just going in. I think the flames were just that intense at the time,” Myers said.
The official cause of the fire is still under investigation.