BEACH LAKE, PA — A New Year's Day structure fire has claimed the life of a 91-year-old man in Berlin Township.

The Wayne County Coroner’s Office identifies the victim as Edward M. Siro Sr.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the residence at 56B Bavarian Hill Road at approximately 6:27pm on Thursday, January 1, following initial reports of the blaze around 6:00pm.

Coroner Edward R. Howell and Chief Deputy Coroner Mark M. James responded to the scene to conduct a death investigation. According to the coroner's report Mr. Siro was found by emergency responders in the vicinity of his bedroom and was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:10pm. Mr. Siro lived alone and had recently been widowed less than a month ago.

An autopsy will be scheduled later this week and the cause and manner of death are pending investigation.