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A man is facing arson charges after a house fire in Pennsylvania left one person dead and two others seriously injured, according to the police.Crews were called to the blaze in Lewistown Borough, northwest of the state capital Harrisburg, at 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday. Police said the property owner had been subletting the home to several people.”I could see orange flames coming out the kitchen window. And they were really high,” Patty Snyder, a neighbor said. “I saw, people standing outside the, the door there. And then a few minutes later I heard, someone yell, ‘Jump! Jump!’ The, I guess men were saying for someone to jump there.”When officers arrived, multiple residents told police the fire had been intentionally set and warned that people were still trapped inside, according to officials. 1 dead, 2 flown to hospitalsPolice said a male suffered significant facial injuries after jumping from the second floor to escape the flames. He was later flown to a burn trauma center for internal burns to his throat. The male told officers that his girlfriend was still inside the house, officials said. Investigators said officers then saw a woman hanging from a second-floor window. Despite heavy flames and thick smoke pouring from the house, she did not jump. Authorities believe she may have lost consciousness from smoke inhalation before falling onto a concrete sidewalk below, suffering serious injuries. She was flown to a trauma center, according to police.According to the Mifflin County Coroner’s office, Brandy Phillippe, 44, of Lewistown, died in the fire as she tried to escape.Snyder said there were also cats that lived in and around the home, and many did not make it out alive.”It’s devastating,” she said. “I just say my prayers for them.”Witnesses point to arson suspectPolice said multiple witnesses identified Robert Zimmerman, 40, of as the suspect and stated he was at the house shortly before the fire, “professing his love for a female who was living in the attic of the residence.” Witnesses told police Zimmerman became upset after being rejected and began setting several items on fire on the first floor of the home, according to investigators. Authorities stated that witnesses reported hearing Zimmerman admit to starting the fire and seeing him in a nearby alley as the home began to burn. Police say surveillance images appear to back up these claims. Zimmerman arrested According to investigators, officers located Zimmerman at his home and detained him for an outstanding warrant and questioning in connection with the arson. Police said Zimmerman smelled of ash and smoke when he was taken into custody. He also told officers he had ingested fentanyl and showed signs of an opioid overdose, according to officials. He was taken to Geisinger Lewistown Hospital for treatment.After being medically cleared several hours later, Zimmerman was transported to the Lewistown Police Department for questioning. By then, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal had ruled the fire an arson. Investigators said Zimmerman could not remember the exact moment the fire started, but was able to describe events immediately before and after it began. Police said he also had a strong emotional reaction when told that a resident had died in the blaze.Zimmerman was taken to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility on his outstanding warrant and a state parole detainer. Police said charges related to the arson, death and injuries are expected to be filed.
A man is facing arson charges after a house fire in Pennsylvania left one person dead and two others seriously injured, according to the police.
Crews were called to the blaze in Lewistown Borough, northwest of the state capital Harrisburg, at 11:55 p.m. on Wednesday. Police said the property owner had been subletting the home to several people.
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“I could see orange flames coming out the kitchen window. And they were really high,” Patty Snyder, a neighbor said. “I saw, people standing outside the, the door there. And then a few minutes later I heard, someone yell, ‘Jump! Jump!’ The, I guess men were saying for someone to jump there.”
When officers arrived, multiple residents told police the fire had been intentionally set and warned that people were still trapped inside, according to officials.
1 dead, 2 flown to hospitals
Police said a male suffered significant facial injuries after jumping from the second floor to escape the flames. He was later flown to a burn trauma center for internal burns to his throat.
The male told officers that his girlfriend was still inside the house, officials said.
Investigators said officers then saw a woman hanging from a second-floor window. Despite heavy flames and thick smoke pouring from the house, she did not jump. Authorities believe she may have lost consciousness from smoke inhalation before falling onto a concrete sidewalk below, suffering serious injuries. She was flown to a trauma center, according to police.
According to the Mifflin County Coroner’s office, Brandy Phillippe, 44, of Lewistown, died in the fire as she tried to escape.
Snyder said there were also cats that lived in and around the home, and many did not make it out alive.
“It’s devastating,” she said. “I just say my prayers for them.”
Witnesses point to arson suspect
Police said multiple witnesses identified Robert Zimmerman, 40, of as the suspect and stated he was at the house shortly before the fire, “professing his love for a female who was living in the attic of the residence.”
Witnesses told police Zimmerman became upset after being rejected and began setting several items on fire on the first floor of the home, according to investigators. Authorities stated that witnesses reported hearing Zimmerman admit to starting the fire and seeing him in a nearby alley as the home began to burn.
Police say surveillance images appear to back up these claims.
Zimmerman arrested
According to investigators, officers located Zimmerman at his home and detained him for an outstanding warrant and questioning in connection with the arson.
Police said Zimmerman smelled of ash and smoke when he was taken into custody. He also told officers he had ingested fentanyl and showed signs of an opioid overdose, according to officials. He was taken to Geisinger Lewistown Hospital for treatment.
After being medically cleared several hours later, Zimmerman was transported to the Lewistown Police Department for questioning. By then, the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal had ruled the fire an arson.
Investigators said Zimmerman could not remember the exact moment the fire started, but was able to describe events immediately before and after it began. Police said he also had a strong emotional reaction when told that a resident had died in the blaze.
Zimmerman was taken to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility on his outstanding warrant and a state parole detainer.
Police said charges related to the arson, death and injuries are expected to be filed.
