"He seemed to have some sort of cardiac episode as he was putting his respirator on," Police Chief Michael Foligno told Daily Voice.
"They did CPR and used defibrillators and got him to the hospital quickly," the chief said.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Arson Investigation Unit was at the scene, although Foligno said the cause doesn't appear suspicious.
The wind-blown three-alarm fire began in the basement or first floor of 2½-story house on Halstead Place house before flames eventually shot through the roof.
It also drew firefighters from Garfield and Saddle Brook, while Lodi and Rochelle Park remained on standby.
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