A fire tore through a Salisbury Mills home Friday morning, resulting in the death of the homeowner?s friend.

The two-story house at 286 Lake Road was engulfed in flames shortly before 7 a.m., prompting a neighbor to call 911.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, the blaze already destroyed the roof of the house and ripped apart its frame. Inside, firefighters discovered the body of 39-year-old Anthony Rhein, of Munnsville.

Fire officials say the owner of the residence who currently does not live there told them that Rhein was staying at his house and doing work on it.

Neighbor Scott McGuinness says he saw the homeowner rush to the house on Lake Road when he heard the news about the fire.

?It's pretty tragic,? McGuinness says. ?I wouldn't know how to feel if it was my house or my friend.?

Neither fire nor police officials could determine why Rhein was not able to escape the flames. The cause of the blaze also remains unknown.