Kerosene heater blamed for deadly fire in Southwest Philadelphia home

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Officials say a kerosene heater may be the blame for a fire that claimed the life of a man inside a home in Southwest Philadelphia late Friday night.

The blaze broke out around 10:30 p.m.on the 5300 block of Kingsessing Avenue.

Firefighters arrived to light smoke coming from the 2-story row home.

It took only minutes to get the fire under control.

During a sweep of the house, the victim was found.

They say the house had no heat and the male victim was using that heater to keep warm.

Chief Derrick Sawyer said, "What we want to do is stress that if you use kerosene heaters to make sure you fill them up outside and remember that space heaters need space, at least three feet from anything that can burn, including yourself."

Officials also say the house had no working smoke detectors.

The victim's name has not been released.

This is the city's fifth fire fatality so far this year.