LORAIN — A Lorain man is dead and two other people are homeless after a fire overnight.

The Fire Department was called to 1513 W. 21st Street a little after 2 a.m., according to Assistant Chief Gary Burls.

They arrived at the scene to find a working house fire with heavy fire coming out the front door and two sides of the single-story house, Burls said.

The Fire Department had to make forced entry because there were iron security bars over the back doors, and they found Norman Fye, 65, on a couch in the home. He was turned over to LifeCare and is dead, although Burls said he didn’t know whether he was dead at the scene or died later.

Fye was the owner and occupant of the home, Burls said. Two other people who lived at the home are being assisted by the Red Cross.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Fire Department investigators, the state fire marshal’s office and possibly a Lorain police detective, Burls said. Burls said Fye was a smoker, according to witness statements.

Burls said damage to the home, which is now uninhabitable, was estimated at $40,000 to the home and $15,000 to its contents.

Contact Rona Proudfoot at 329-7124 or rproudfoot@chroniclet.com.