An early morning house fire in Oakdale claimed the life of an 88-year-old man, who was identified by police as Stephan Jendricks.

The blaze broke out around 5:40 a.m. Wednesday at his home on Waterford Road, leaving behind a charred structure.

Fire officials say the home was already engulfed in flames by the time crews arrived on scene.

Despite efforts to enter the house and rescue Jendricks, the fire proved too intense.

“We made entry to the side of the house, made it down the hallway, but due to the fire load, we had to push our way out,” West Sayville Fire Chief Patrick D’Onofrio said. “We weren’t able to grab the victim, unfortunately.”

Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Huguenin echoed the sentiment. “We tried to make our way to the front of the house, but the fire pushed us back," he said. "We had to bail out pretty quickly through the back.”

Jendricks, a beloved figure in the neighborhood, was known for his love of the outdoors.

“I’ve known him since I was a child,” said Francis Palumbo, a longtime friend. “It’s devastating because he was older and alone right now. He was an outstanding person. Everyone who knew him loved him.”

Neighbors shared that Jendricks had lived alone since the passing of his wife several years ago. Most of his remaining family lives out of state.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, but police say it does not appear to be criminal in nature.