HONESDALE - The Office of the Wayne County Coroner was dispatched to the scene of a fatal house fire the morning of December 24 at 256 Erie Street, Honesdale Borough.

Reportedly, the fire was initially observed by a passerby who called 911 and also alerted neighbors just before 11:00 PM on December 23.

According to the Honesdale Fire Department, it was dispatched shortly before 11 p.m. to a report of a structure fire with possible entrapment. 

The fire department found the home well involved in fire. Members mounted an attack on the fire from the exterior, while crews searched the home's interior. One victim was found deceased within the home. 

The fire was marked under control at 2 a.m. on December 24 with units clearing the scene at 3 a.m. The fire department said that crews on scene battled through cold and slippery conditions and that no members were injured. 

Edward R. Howell, Wayne County Coroner and Mark M. James, Chief Deputy Coroner responded and performed the death scene investigation.

The decedent was determined to be 74-year-old William T. Doherty who lived alone in the residence. He was pronounced dead inside the fire and smoke-damaged home by Coroner Howell at 1:04 AM.

An autopsy will be conducted later this week.

Pennsylvania State Police are also investigating the cause of this fatal fire.

This is an ongoing investigation; more information will be released as it becomes available.