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In an attempt to escape his fiery Point Breeze home, a man jumped two stories, but less than an hour later died from unrelated injuries of the fall.
Police responded to a house fire on the 1100 block of South 19th Street at approximately 11:25 p.m. Nov. 10, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. As Engine 10, 1357 S. 12th St., Engine 24, 1200 S. 20th St., Ladder 5, 711 S. Broad St, and Ladder 19, 2301 S. 24th St., extinguished the fire, Lester Watkins, 64, jumped from the third floor rear bedroom and landed on the first floor roof. Following transport by medic to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, he was pronounced dead at 12:17 a.m. A 66-year-old female, who lived with Watkins, escaped without any injuries.
Watkins’ cause of death was determined to be heart disease, Health Department spokesman Jeff Moran said.
The Fire Department was still investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have started in the home’s basement, as of press time, Tolliver said.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
Also in this week’s Police Report:
Cutting words
Fire claims Point Breeze resident
Loitering thief
Teen sets fire in Bella Vista
Meetings aplenty
Picture imperfect
A screwy predicament
Brick chucker
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