An 82-year-old man has died in a three-alarm fire that broke out in Queens, New York, early in the morning.
According to witnesses, the flames were already spreading rapidly when firefighters arrived at the scene.
The victim, who was on the second floor, did not survive the blaze.
Firefighters described the challenges they faced due to the heavy smoke and clutter inside the house.
The FDNY has not released the name of the victim, but neighbors say he was a kind man who had lived in the area for decades and was a little league coach.
Fire marshals are investigating the cause of the fire.
The neighborhood is in mourning over the loss of this beloved community member.