A man has died in a West New York fire that crews spent hours trying to knock down, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office confirmed.

It happened above the Harbor Fish Market on Bergenline Avenue.

A witness told News 12 New Jersey that he was driving by the site of the fire just before 5:30 a.m. when he noticed smoke coming from the building’s second floor.

The witness says he first threw rocks at the window to get anyone inside’s attention, but ultimately decided to break through two doors to rescue a man, woman and two dogs from the flames.

That man tried to make his way back up again, but was greeted by even thicker smoke, and couldn’t break through the door to a second apartment. Law enforcement advised he get to safety.

Officials remained at the scene and had the area taped off as an investigation into how the fire started got underway. According to the witness, the victim is believed to be an older man.

Bergenline Avenue is no stranger to fires as it was earlier this year that multiple storefronts were on fire, displacing 11 families.