Man dies in SW house fire

A man who died in a house fire in Usher overnight has been described by a neighbour as a friendly man who kept to himself.

The man, who is believed to be in his 50s, was pulled from the house as flames engulfed it about midnight but tragically was already dead.

A neighbour said she had not officially met the victim, but knew the woman who owned the house. She said the owner also lived in the house but was away.

The neighbour said the man had been living with the woman for several months and had appeared “quite friendly”.

“He was helping her out around the garden and when we saw him around he was friendly,” she said.

Police were patrolling the area about 11.30 last night when they noticed the house on fire and notified fire crews.

The neighbour said flames could be seen coming out of the roof of the house.

“It was that far gone before anyone got here,” she said.

The fire gutted the house with the damage bill estimated at $200,000.

Arson squad detectives are still yet to attend the house and determine the cause of the blaze, but it is not being treated as suspicious.

A report is also being prepared for the coroner.