Decomposed body found after fire

CHESTER » Firefighters cleaning up after a fire found a badly decomposed body in an abandoned home on the 500 block ofW. Sixth Street Thursday evening.

Firefighters were alerted for a building fire just after 7: 30 p. m. When they arrived, the house had fire showing from a second floor window dormer, said Chester Fire Commissioner William Rigby. Both sides of the twin house were vacant.

“The building is in real bad condition, partially collapsed, during overhaul we found a badly decomposed body in the attached twin,” Rigby said. “It’s a Chester police’s crime scene and the Delaware County CID are investigating.”

“An investigation is being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division, the Chester Police Department and theMedical Examiners Office to determinemanner and cause of death. Preliminary investigation suggests that

the individual may have been a squatter but the investigation is ongoing,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.

Rigby said firefighters were not able to access the building on fire from the front because of the overgrown condition of the property. Firefighters went in the back of the house and used an aerial ladder

to reach the fire which they had under control within 15 minutes but stood by with lighting for investigators.

Rigby said firefighters pay particular attention to properties that are unoccupied.

“We try to identify these buildings, the companies go out during the day to identify target hazards, and we try to keep a running listwhere these buildings are. We communicate to our guys where they are,” Rigby said.

PETE BANNAN — MEDIANEWS GROUP Firefighters overhauling froma fire in the home next door found a badly decomposed body in this Chester property.