Man dies after
clothing catches fire

A 63-year-old Somerton man died late Saturday night after apparently setting himself on fire in a cooking mishap.
Authorities still aren’t certain if John Nelleman, 63, of the 600 block of Maple Ave., died as a result of burns or if some other medical event precipitated the incident. The Philadelphia fire marshal’s office has not ruled it a fire death pending the outcome of a medical examination.
Firefighters went to the first-floor duplex shortly after 11:30 p.m. when neighbors of the victim smelled smoke and called 911, police said.
Before firefighters arrived, the neighbors entered the apartment and found the victim on the kitchen floor unresponsive with burns of the upper torso and arms. His clothing was heavily burnt.
Firefighters declared the blaze under control within minutes. Fire medics pronounced Nelleman dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The building was not involved in the flames, a fire department spokesman said. The home had operable smoke alarms. ••