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Man Killed, Wife Injured In New City Fire

NEW CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A house fire in New City has claimed the life of a man and left his wife injured.

The fire broke out in the garage of the three-story wooden-frame house on Hansen Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Monday, 1010 WINS reported. Minutes later, the whole house was up in flames.

Neighbors said firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes and were met by flames shooting 20-feet in the air, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.

Man Killed, Wife Injured In New City Fire

One man, who lives two houses away, said he first heard an explosion.

"A little while later I heard screaming, I guess what might've been glass breaking, some popping noises," the man said. "At first I thought it might've been gunfire, but it was too loud for gunfire. Then my wife said, 'Look, there's smoke,' and she called 911."

A 67-year-old man, identified by police as Luis Fernandez, was found dead in the garage of the home, Schuck reported. His 65-year-old wife, Ruth, is being treated at Columbia Presbyterian Burn Center, police said.

Officials said the fire is not suspicious.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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