A GRIFFITH man described by neighbours as private endured a tragic end to his life on Wednesday evening, as a raging fire engulfed his fibro Macarthur Street home.
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Within minutes, the fire shot flames from the windows, casting a plume of smoke over the city and sending residents into a fraught despair.
His panic-stricken residents heard his screams for help, but there was little they could do.
“There was a couple of blokes yelling and screaming ‘look at the smoke, look at the smoke’,” Peter Fox said, who was at the home next door to the inferno.
Mr Fox said he leapt into action and forced open the side door.
“Inside was just dense smoke,” he said.
“I couldn’t see a thing. I sang out to him but there was no answer, no response.”
Police are yet to formally identify the body but residents have told The Area News they believed his name was Vince Foster.
His neighbours said he was a private man who “kept to himself”.
“I feel a bit strange,” long-term resident Helen Bourke said.
“It’s just such a sad way to leave.
“The whole street is in shock."
Griffith police duty officer Inspector Scott Wilkinson said authorities had at this stage ruled out suspicious circumstances as the cause of the blaze.
The man was believed to be 75-years-old, Inspector Wilkinson said.
Macarthur Street residents said they felt helpless as they waited for firefighters to arrive on the scene.
Mr Fox said Vince would have had little chance of survival.
“He was really quite sick," he said.
“He could hardly walk.”
Firefighters said the man's body was found in the front room of the house, where the fire is believed to have started.
Detectives continued their inquires Thursday morning and will prepare a report for the coroner.
Anyone with more information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Griffith police on 6969 4299.
