Elderly man dies in house fire

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Police believe an elderly man who was found in a burning home died from smoke inhalation.

Fire Rescue crews responded to the blaze at about 5 a.m. Thursday at 82nd Terrace and Northeast First Avenue. Officials arrived on scene to find what appeared to be a bedroom in the rear of the home up in flames.

Crews extinguished the blaze but later discovered the elderly man in the kitchen deceased. "They knocked the fire down quickly but in another room, which was the kitchen, they found an elderly gentleman, who was overcome by super heated gases," said Miami Fire Rescue Captain Alex Fernandez.

A resident who lives in a home directly in front of where the fire occurred said he woke up alarmed. "When I sleep, I heard a noise in the back," said Fontinas Joseph. "When I wake up and look outside, I see a lot of smoke everywhere."

Fontinas said he woke up to find the addition behind his home on fire. His property owner notified police.

Fontinas believes the elderly victim was in his 80s and said he rarely saw the man.

Firefighters are now trying to determine the cause of the blaze. "At this time, we are looking into it further," said Fernandez.

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