Woman killed in Penn Hills fire identified; death, fire ruled accidental
An 83-year-old woman was identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office as the person who was killed in a March 11 fire at a house in Penn Hills.
Karen L. Verzinski lived in the 300 block of College Street in Penn Hills, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Medical Examiner’s Office said Verzinski’s death was casued by burns and smoke inhalation. Her death was ruled an accident.
Verzinski is survived by a brother, according to obituary information. Arrangements were with Jobe Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., Turtle Creek.
At the time, authorities believed the fire started by a propane gas leak in the basement that caused an explosion and started the fire, knocking out the house’s foundation walls. Then, the fire hit a second propane tank.
The blaze was ruled an accident by authorities.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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