Authorities are investigating what the Pennsylvania State Police said was an arson at a Greene Township residence on Wednesday night that led to the discovery of a man's body inside.
The 40-year-old man, identified by Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook Thursday morning as Kevin Rouse, was pronounced dead on Wednesday at 9:15 p.m. at the scene of the fire, at 4299 Steger Road, according to the Erie County Coroner's Office.
The cause of Rouse's death is under investigation, Cook said.
Investigators said Rouse's body was found inside the residence, which is north of Route 8 and east of Kuhl Road, when emergency responders were sent to the residence for a fire that was reported at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Erie County 911.
The Kuhl Hose Co. in Greene Township and six neighboring fire departments were called to put out the fire. Crews arrived on scene to find fire coming through the windows of the residence, a Kuhl Hose official said Thursday. The fire caused extensive damage to the structure, he said.
Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours Wednesday night.
State police in Erie, in a news release issued Thursday morning following the fire, listed the incident as an arson and a death investigation. It appears the victim started fires inside the residence, according to Capt. Kirk Reese, commander of state police Troop E in Lawrence Park Township.
The Troop E Erie Criminal Investigation, Fire Marshal and Forensic Services units were also called to the scene and are involved in the ongoing investigation.
Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com . Follow him on X @ETNhahn .
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Authorities investigating suspected arson at Greene Township home where man's body found
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