MUNCY -- A 33-year-old Pennsdale area man, formerly of Selinsgrove, died Saturday in an early morning fire that destroyed a property owned by his family.

The victim was identified as Richard T. Bower, 390 Peter Gray Lane, Muncy. He was found in a room at the rear of the house and pronounced dead at the scene by Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr., who identified the cause of death as smoke inhalation and severe burns.

Bower, a former Pennsylvania College of Technology student, moved to Pennsdale from Selinsgrove about two years ago. He had an 8-year-old daughter, who lives with her mother in Selinsgrove.

Greg Delany, chief of the Muncy Creek Community Fire Company, said the blaze broke out around 4:30 a.m. along Peter Gray Lane, just south of Muncy. Crews from Muncy, Picture Rocks, Pennsdale, Watsontown, Hughesville, Montoursville and Clinton Township responded. It took firefighters about an hour to bring the blaze under control, Delany said. The chief said the fire is under investigation.

** The Williamsport Sun-Gazette contributed to this report.