The dead man is 72-year-old Alfred Reitano, an Army veteran who has lived in the neighborhood for about 40 years.
Firefighters were called to the residence at about 8:30 a.m. Monday and had the flames under control in about 20 minutes.
Executive Fire Chief Richard Davison says the victim's body was found on ground floor of the two-story building. Investigators believe the victim tried to extinguish the flames himself because they found water running when they arrived.
Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers says the death drives home an important lesson that it's better for residents to call 911 than try to put out fires themselves.
