Elderly hoarder dies in Sydney house fire

An elderly hoarder has died in a house fire in Sydney's west.

Firefighters arrived in Old Toongabbie around 1am but were unable to gain entry to the property, because of items piled around the house.

Crews managed to smash a window and pull the 73-year-old man out from the burning home.

Police Acting Inspector Jeff Ludkin said the man was unconscious when he was found but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he passed away at the scene.

Firefighters managed to save a greyhound they found in the backyard.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Neighbours say the elderly man loved his dogs.

"I used to talk to him a lot but he kept to himself. He loved his dogs. He used to sit out in the back yard and talk to his dogs all the time," a female resident of Old Toongabbie told ABC.