An elderly man died in a house fire this morning on the central Mountain.

Hamilton firefighters responded to the fire at 32 Cliff Avenue, north of Concession Street, at about 10:34 a.m. Upon arrival firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions in the basement of the home, with flames spreading to the first floor.

Firefighters entered the basement of the home and discovered one occupant on this floor level. They removed him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neighbours told Metroland Media the man who died is the father of the woman who has lived in the home with her husband for more than 20 years. The homeowner’s dad and mom would stay and live there for half the year and vacation south for the winter.

Damage to the home is estimated at about $300,000. The cause was not immediately known. An investigator from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office is expected to arrive at the scene this afternoon.

Cliff Avenue was temporarily closed, but has been re-opened between Mountain Park Avenue and Concession Street.

This is the second fatal house fire in Hamilton this year. On Oct. 21, a 32-year-old man died in an early morning fire at 922 West 5th St.