Tributes for man, 69, who died in Sydney house fire
Tributes are flowing for a much-loved neighbour who died in a house fire in Mount Druitt in western Sydney overnight.
Anthony Salzone, 69, was found dead in his bedroom by firefighters who were called to the townhouse on O'Brien Street at 1am.
Anthony Salzone died in the fire. Nine
"He was a lovely man, very cheerful. It's very sad," a neighbour said.
The blaze started in the man's room, with flames roaring out the back of the property.
His female housemate managed to escape after hearing the smoke alarm.
The blaze started in the man's room, with flames roaring out the back of the property. Nine
She ran down the lane knocking on the doors of neighbouring homes to tell people to evacuate.
She said she had intended to go back inside to try and save Mr Salzone, but was too scared.
Tributes are being paid to man who died in Sydney house fire Nine
"I was coming back, and when I saw the smoke, and I saw the red from the flame through the windows, that's when I stayed up there, I was too frightened to come back," she said.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of the morning and quickly tore through the home. 9News
She thinks her three cats may have died in the fire.
"If they perish… those things happen, but it's more devastating that Tony lost his life," she said.
Investigators spent the morning combing through the scene.
The bedroom where the fire started is cluttered but the cause of the blaze is not yet known.
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