Man Dies Following Pittsburgh Fire

PITTSBURGH --

A man who was on a heart transplant waiting list and went into cardiac arrest after a small fire on Penn Avenue downtown has died.

The medical examiner's office has not yet released the 62-year old victim's name. He died after being taken to UPMC Mercy on Wednesday morning.

Two floors of the Roosevelt Arms building -- which houses apartments, a day care and other businesses -- were evacuated because of the fire shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Detective Mike Burns, of the Pittsburgh police arson squad, said the victim used an oxygen tank in his third-floor apartment and apparently fell asleep on his couch while smoking.

"He was in cardiac arrest twice, and they did perform CPR and brought him back twice," said Burns.

The fire was contained in the man's apartment, Burns said.

"The firefighters were unable to hear the fire alarm system throughout the building," said building inspector director Dan Cipriani. "It seemed to be limited to only the day care portion of the building."

Tests will be conducted on the building's alarm system Thursday, fire officials said.

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