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NV Twp. Fire Claims Life of Local Resident
Victim, 68, succumbs at UPMC Mercy Hospital
By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
July 16, 2024
Posted in: North Versailles Twp. News
A North Versailles Twp. man died Sunday evening following a fire at his home on Payne Street.
Mark Gowaty, 68, died at UPMC Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh about six hours after being rescued from the blaze by firefighters, the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office said. Gowaty had suffered burns over most of his body, the medical examiner’s office said.
Crews were dispatched to the home just off Luehm Avenue after 1 p.m. and arrived to find the rear of the home fully engulfed in flame, with smoke coming from other parts of the structure, said fire Chief Vince DiCenzo III of the Fire Department of North Versailles.
Allegheny County property records indicate the one-story wood frame home was built in 1925 and had been in the same family since at least 1981.
Gowaty was trapped inside by the fire and was rescued by first responders, DiCenzo said.
Although the fire was under control in about 30 minutes, DiCenzo said crews remained on the scene for another five hours, looking for hot spots and assisting the Allegheny County fire marshal’s office.
The home sustained extensive damage, DiCenzo said.
A spokeswoman for the fire marshal’s office said the cause and origin of the blaze remains under investigation.
DiCenzo said additional fire and rescue crews were called to the scene because Sunday’s intense heat and humidity. The National Weather Service in Moon Twp. said the temperature reached 93 degrees just before 4 p.m. Sunday.
“The weather definitely had an effect,” DiCenzo said.
Three firefighters were treated at the scene for heat- and smoke-related injuries, he said, and one firefighter and one EMS responder were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
In addition to FDNV crews, firefighters from Crestas, Glassport, Hartford Heights, McKeesport, Rainbow, United, West Wilmerding, White Oak No. 1 and Wilmerding also responded, along with personnel from Munhall and North Huntingdon Rescue 8, DiCenzo said.
FDNV and White Oak EMS ambulances also responded, along with UPMC and AHN paramedic response teams and the Salvation Army, he said.
Funeral arrangements for Gowaty were not available at press time.
Originally published July 16, 2024.
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