An early morning housefire in Upper Dublin Township has taken the lives of two residents. We reported this morning that an injured victim was hospitalized at Temple Health Center.

According to a press release on behalf of Upper Dublin Township, this victim is still receiving treatment, but officials announced that a second victim was found deceased inside the house during an investigation.

Upper Dublin Fire Marshal Timothy Schuck told 6ABC Action News that the fire likely started in the back of the home, in a sitting room, where a woman stayed because of a disability she had. Authorities said part of the second-floor bedroom collapsed during the fire and that the home is a total loss.

Montgomery County 911 received a call for a residential fire at 900 Bellaire Avenue in the Ambler section of Upper Dublin Township at 4:13am, officials said. The Fort Washington Fire Company and the Upper Dublin Police Department were dispatched, and Upper Dublin police reported heavy fire venting through windows at the rear of a home.

One victim, 35-year-old Stephen Wood, Jr., escaped and reported that two additional occupants were trapped inside the home. Wood, Jr. was transported to Temple University Hospital by Community Ambulance Association of Ambler with burn and smoke inhalation injuries.

Firefighters from Fort Washington Fire Company, supported by surrounding mutual aid fire companies, arrived and entered the home. One adult male, 74-year-old Stephen Wood, Sr. was found on the first floor of the home and was immediately removed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. During the subsequent investigation, 70-year-old Deborah Wood was found deceased inside the residence.

The cause and origin of this fire are under investigation. Investigation is being conducted by the Upper Dublin Township Fire Marshal with the assistance of the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s Office.

6ABC’s video coverage can be found below:

Screengrab: 6ABC