Autopsy Pending On Wayne Man Who Died Battling Fire

WAYNE, NJ — Police found the body of a man in the back of the basement where a fast-moving fire quickly spread and quickly engulfed the house, killing him and his dog, authorities said. His wife was treated for injuries at the scene.

Police found the man's body in the back of the concrete-walled basement authorities said acted like an oven and intensified the blaze, authorities said.

The Riverlawn Drive house was already "fully engulfed" in flames when police arrived there shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday, said Detective Capt. Laurence Martin.

RELATED: Husband Dies Trying To Fight Wayne Fire Sunday

The woman told police that her husband was still inside when they arrived on scene, Martin said.

The husband reportedly tried to extinguish the fire and one of the couple's dogs ran back into the house after he did; authorities found the animal's body on the destroyed house's second floor, Fire Commissioner John Wozinak previously said.

The deceased man's identity and other information regarding the cause of the fire will be released when available, Martin said. The state Medical Examiner's Office is conducting an autopsy and toxicology test to determine the man's exact cause of death.

The woman was examined for injuries and released to family members at the scene. A motorhome, Toyota Prius and a motorcycle in the house's driveway were damaged, Martin said.

Police arson investigator Sgt. Donald Pavlak Jr. surveyed the area to try and find surveillance systems that may have filed the fire to try and determine the cause and where exactly in the basement it originated, the captain said. Pavlak and a detective from the prosecutor's office are leading the investigation.

The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, Sheriff's Department and Public Service Electric & Gas personnel also responded to the scene.

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