Elderly man dies in accidental, electrical fire at Cleveland home, fire department says

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - An elderly man died in a Saturday house fire on Cleveland’s West Side.

The blaze occurred around 7:39 am Saturday at a home on W. 123rd Street near Lorain Avenue, a spokesperson for Cleveland Fire said.

“He was quiet, he was reclusive but he was really nice to everybody,” said neighbor Joanne Bajorek.

The investigation found the fire was accidental and caused by electrical issues, the fire department said. They warned that overcrowded electrical outlets are a fire hazard. The fire department also warned that extension cords should only be for temporary use.

EMS took the victim to MetroHealth, where he was pronounced deceased, according to a tweet posted by Cleveland Fire.

His identity is not yet released.

“It’s sad to see the house go. It was sadder to stand here and wonder if he was ok or not,” Bajorek added.

No firefighters were injured in this incident, the fire department said.

The fire is now extinguished.

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