The landlord of a Spring Valley home that firefighters believed was an illegal boarding house died Tuesday when a fire broke out in the basement.

Firefighters responded to the fire at North Pascack Road but were unable to save 68-year-old landlord Daniel Roberson. Firefighters say about 10 people lived in the house, which was sectioned off into apartments, indicating an illegal boarding house. Roberson had been fined numerous times by the Rockland County Board of Health and the town for violations.

The cause of the fire in under investigation.