Newton ma news wcvb newscenter

Massachusetts authorities are investigating a fire in a Newton duplex that left a man dead, according to officials.

Newton Fire Chief Greg Gentile said the fire department first started receiving phone calls about a house fire at 1243 Walnut St., which is at the corner of Walnut and Boylston streets, at about 8:30 a.m.

Sunday.

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According to Gentile, the first 911 call came from an off-duty Boston firefighter who saw the burning duplex as he passed it while driving on Route 9.

Gentile said Newton firefighters made an aggressive attack and primary search, and during that search, they found a male victim on the first floor.

Firefighters removed that man from the home and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.

Friends of the victim told NewsCenter 5 reporter Ted Wayman that 69-year-old Scott Patz was the man who died in Sunday's fire.

Patz's wife was able to make it safely out of the fire.

"It was unexpected. She's doing the best th