A Derry Borough man died early this morning after he and another tenant were rescued from a apartment fire.

The victim, James Gamble, 60, was pronounced dead in the emergency room at Excela Health Latrobe Hospital, the Westmoreland County coroner said.

The identity of the second man has not been released.

Firefighters were dispatched at 2:36 a.m. to a home in the 200 block of North Chestnut Street. The house had been converted into two apartments, Derry assistant fire chief Jason Campbell said.

When the first engine truck arrived a the scene, firefighters found a man, later identified as Mr. Gamble, lying on the floor about 15 feet inside his residence.

He was removed from the house in preparation to be taken by helicopter to a Pittsburgh burn center, but he went into cardiac arrest while in the ambulance.

A second man was found sleeping in an apartment in the rear of the structure.

Firefighters helped him to safety, and he was not injured, Mr. Campbell said.

The coroner's office reported the fire may have started accidentally when Mr. Gamble went to sleep while smoking in bed.

Derry police and a state police fire marshal are investigating the cause, but foul play is not suspected, the coroner said.

No other injuries were reported.

An autopsy will be conducted today to determine Mr. Gamble's cause of death.

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