67-year-old man killed in Sparrow Bush house fire
Neighbors describe victim as a quiet man who lived alone; officials say nothing appears suspicious.
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A 67-year-old man was killed in an overnight fire that burned a home to the ground in Sparrow Bush, according to the Orange County Office of Emergency Management.
The fire broke out around 1 a.m. at 12 Darragh Lane in Sparrow Bush, in the Town of Deerpark, according to neighbors.
David Bloomer, whose relatives previously lived in the home, said his sister heard popping sounds and looked outside to see flames.
“My sister actually got up and heard some pops and stuff, and she looked out the window and saw the flames,” Bloomer said. “She woke us all up and I said, ‘Call 911 right away.’”
“But it was too late,” he said.
Neighbors told News 12 the 67-year-old victim lived alone and was known as “Tom.” Orange County real property records list Thomas Tenbus as the owner of the property and show he purchased the home in 2000. Officials have not yet publicly identified the victim.
Neighbor Izzy Hensz described the man who lived there as quiet and well-known in the neighborhood.
“It was heartbreaking, honestly, because he really stayed to himself and he was a really sweet guy,” Hensz said. “Everybody knew him.”
Hensz said seeing the home completely destroyed was “just insane.”
The tragedy is particularly personal for her. Hensz said her own home burned down last year.
“It makes us feel for him and his family because we went through it and we know how heartbreaking it is,” she said.
An arson task force was called to the scene. Orange County emergency management officials say the exact cause remains under investigation, but there is nothing suspicious at this time.
County officials say autopsy results will also be a factor in determining what happened. New York State Police is handling that portion of the investigation.
News 12 has reached out to State Police and Deerpark Police for additional information.
