Blaze Rips Through Irvington Home, 1 Dead
IRVINGTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Investigators are working to determine the cause of a overnight fire in New Jersey that left one man dead.
Authorities say the call for a fire at the house on 40th Street in Irvington came in at around 10:30 p.m. Monday night, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
Firefighters say by the time they arrived at the scene, the three-story home was completely engulfed in flames.
"Fully involved two-and-a-half story frame -- we had an occupant trapped on the third floor," Irvington Fire Dept. Captain Mike Torisello said. "We tried to gain access, the guys did a great job trying to get in the front door. There was so much fire they had to back out and they weren't able to get to the victim in time."
Maya Barrientos saw the man, believed to be in his 60s, screaming from a top window.
"He cried 'help!'" Barrientos said. "But nobody helped."
Investigators from the Prosecutor's Office say four other adults managed to escape. The top floor of the home was completely gutted, with the bottom floor suffering considerable damage as well.
"It was moving fast. The fire was moving very fast," Barrientos said.
The person who was killed was not immediately identified.
Neighbors who knew the victim say he didn't have much, but he always went out of his way to help his family and others.
"I'm just so shocked. Can't believe it. I just feel so bad for them," Karen Dixon, a neighbor, said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.