A 12-year-old Oil City boy died Sunday morning after a fire at his Bissell Avenue home, according to Oil City Fire Chief Steve Hinds.

Edward Haney was working on a vehicle fuel tank in the basement with his father, Robert Haney Jr., when it was ignited by a kerosene heater. The fire spread through the house and repeated attempts by firefighters and family to rescue Edward, who was a student at Oil City Middle School, were unsuccessful. He died at 10:20 a.m., according to Venango County Coroner H. John Greggs.

Mr. Greggs said he was awaiting toxicology results, but that it appeared the cause of death was smoke inhalation.

The fire took an hour to extinguish and gutted the house, Chief Hinds said.

Robert Haney escaped with minor burns and Mr. Haney's fiancee, Thresa Crum, and her 16-year-old son, who were in the house when the fire started, were not hurt.