One dead, two displaced in fire

Published 12:43 pm Monday, August 25, 2014

One man died and two neighbors were displaced from their home after a fire in the 200 block of North Division Street early Sunday morning.

Joseph Booth, 47, was found by firefighters in an upstairs bedroom at the home, according to a city news release.

The two-alarm fire was reported at 3:35 a.m. Firefighters found heavy fire at the rear of the house and heard several small explosions from a gas grill’s propane tank as well as a motorbike.

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While a ladder crew attacked the blaze at the rear of the house, firefighters entered and searched through the heavy fire for the resident. Booth lived alone, according to the release.

A second home nearby sustained major damage because of the intensity of the flames. The two adults who lived there were displaced and are being assisted by family members.

Suffolk police detectives and the Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause, according to the release.