WILKES-BARRE, Penn. (WNEP [3]) - A gruesome discovery made in Wilkes-Barre 24 hours after a fire leveled a double-block house.
Two bodies were taken from the fire scene.
This fire on Sullivan Street in Wilkes-Barre broke out around 1:30 a.m. Monday in what was believed to be a vacant house.
It wasn't until Tuesday morning when crews started digging through debris. that they found two bodies in the rubble.
People who live near the burned house on Sullivan Street watched as crews sifted through what was left after finding the bodies.
"I think everybody would like answers. When something like this happens, it's a tragedy. It's two lives that are gone in a tragic way. Everybody would like an answer. How it happened, why did it happen," said neighbor Lisa McGahee.
"It's a hurtful thing. Even though I don't know them personally but I have my own family. Wow," said Kimberle Brown-Jones.
The fire started around 1:30 am Monday at the home that was believed to have been vacant for several years.
The flames also damaged the apartment building next door, forcing out 15 people who lived there.
None of those residents were hurt.
About 12 hours after the fire, the Wilkes-Barre fire department got an anonymous tip, saying someone could be inside the building and didn't make it out of the fire. When they went back to the scene they found the first body.
Several hours later, another body was discovered in the basement area.
"We are going to do toxicology and possibly an autopsy to determine everything, but we're going to move slow, and we are going to try to get to the bottom of everything," said Luzerne County Coroner John Corcoran.
Neighbors said they are not surprised at the discovery made in the building they called an eyesore.
"This property has been a nuisance with prostitutes and loiterers and drug dealers coming in and out for the past three years," said neighbor Katrina Sorick.
"Honestly I can't say I'm surprised, with all the people sneaking in and out constantly over there. All the time," said neighbor Angel Barry.
The cause of Monday's fire is still under investigation.
Officials are looking into county records find out who owns the house.
Anyone with information on the two male bodies found inside the house is asked to call the Luzerne County coroner's office.
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