2 Killed In Scranton House Fire: Reports

SCRANTON, NJ — The coroner for Lackawanna County was reportedly summoned to a house in Scranton Saturday afternoon where public safety officials found a volatile scene hours before. Two people were found deceased on the second floor of the residence, according to a reporter for the Scranton Times-Tribune, who said the rest of the structure was not yet deemed safe for investigators to check for additional victims.

Police responded to the home where both fire and gunshots erupted Saturday morning, according to local media outlets.

Emergency officials were called to the home on the 2100 block of Washburn Street in Scranton Saturday morning on reports of a fire, WBRE reported. Police say shots were then fired from the burning home.

The bodies of a man and woman were located at the residence, according to the news station, which said there may have been a third person with them in the house.

The Scranton Times Tribune said the coroner had arrived at the residence in the afternoon, which hours before had been teeming with rifle-wielding SWAT officers and firefighters who were told the house was too unsafe for them to go inside.

An officer at the scene said a person inside the home had a "high powered rifle," a reporter for the Scranton Times Tribune said before 9:30 a.m. Traffic was detoured around the scene.

A reporter for WNEP said the flames spread to the roof of the home, and it appeared that police were still calling to the shooter, who remained inside the home.

The mayor issued a statement to residents at the time.

"I am currently on the scene of an incident in the 2100 block of Washburn Street with SPD and SFD," Mayor Bill Courtright said in a statement before 10 a.m. "All neighbors are asked to shelter in place and avoid the area. Neighboring streets are closed until further notice."

A reporter later said that the mayor wouldn't answer questions about whether shots were fired.
Officials said that no firefighters were injured but it was not how many people were in the home at the time of the fire.

This is a developing story. Check back for more information.

Image: Patch graphic