Crews investigate deadly apartment fire in Phoenix

Neighbors remember man found dead after apartment fire

The fire burned Tuesday morning at an apartment complex in south Phoenix, and the man, whose identity has not been released by officials, was found inside an apartment by fire crews. FOX 10's Desiree Fluellen reports.

PHOENIX - An investigation is underway into a deadly fire at a south Phoenix apartment complex.

Firefighters say when crews arrived at the scene near 36th Street and Baseline Road on Tuesday, they "found heavy fire coming from the entryway of a two-story apartment complex."

Once the fire was extinguished, a search and rescue team found a man unconscious and not breathing.

"Unfortunately the patient was beyond resuscitation and pronounced deceased at the scene," stated Captain Todd Keller of the Phoenix Fire Department.

No firefighters were injured and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The man's name has not been released, but neighbors are speaking out.

"He was a really good man, and it just sucks that this is how his life ended," said Sephanie Shayeb.

Shayeb said the man was like a grandfather to her, and even helped watch her five-month-old son.

"He loves babies, so I could always bring my son to him," said Shayeb. "He was such a good man."

"Very nice guy. Come over and share food with everybody, very social guy. He walks around the neighborhood a lot, saying hi to everybody," said Trevor Stock.

Stock said the man lived alone, but did have family around.

"He was always visiting family here and they were always stopping by too," said Stock.