Matthew Proud Obituary, Death – A Mifflin County man has died nearly two weeks after being injured in a mobile home fire. According to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, 68-year-old Matthew Proud of Derry Township was pronounced dead on Monday, August 11. The cause of death was determined to be inhalation of products of combustion, meaning he suffered fatal injuries from breathing in toxic smoke and gases produced during the fire. Officials have classified his death as accidental.
The fire broke out on July 29, 2025, at approximately 5:40 a.m. in the 18 block of Sunflower Lane. Emergency crews from the Heritage Volunteer Fire Company responded quickly to the scene. In a statement posted to their Facebook page, the fire company reported that firefighters were able to locate and extricate a trapped occupant from the burning home before bringing the blaze under control.
The rescued individual was identified as Proud. After being pulled from the home, he was immediately treated by emergency medical personnel before being transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, for advanced care. Despite nearly two weeks of medical treatment, Proud ultimately succumbed to the severe effects of smoke inhalation.
Smoke inhalation is a common and often deadly hazard in residential fires. It can cause significant damage to the lungs and airways, leading to respiratory failure and other life-threatening complications, even if burn injuries are minimal. In Proud’s case, inhalation of toxic combustion byproducts during the fire proved fatal.
Details about how the fire started have not been released, and the cause remains under investigation. Authorities will likely examine potential ignition sources, electrical wiring, heating systems, and any other contributing factors that could explain how the blaze began and spread. The fire’s intensity and the fact that Proud became trapped inside his home suggest that it developed quickly, giving little time to escape.
The Heritage Volunteer Fire Company’s swift response helped ensure the fire was extinguished before it could spread to other nearby homes. Their ability to rescue Proud from the mobile home was a significant effort, though the long-term effects of his injuries could not be overcome despite medical intervention.
For the residents of Derry Township, the incident is a sobering reminder of the dangers of residential fires, particularly in mobile homes, which can be more vulnerable to rapid fire spread due to their construction materials and limited escape routes. Fire safety experts urge homeowners to maintain working smoke detectors, have fire extinguishers accessible, and plan escape routes to reduce the risk of becoming trapped during an emergency.
As the investigation continues, officials are working to determine the exact cause of the blaze, both to provide closure for Proud’s loved ones and to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Proud’s death has left his family, friends, and community mourning the sudden loss, remembering him as a long-time resident of the area whose life was tragically cut short by the devastating fire.
