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Elderly hoarder missing after home destroyed by fire

An elderly hoarder who has been missing since his Sydney home was destroyed by fire is feared dead.

Emergency workers were called to the man’s home at Leonard Ave, Kingsford, in southeast Sydney, about 2am on Saturday, police said.

Firefighters put out the blaze but the property was completely destroyed and they were unable to enter the home due to a large amount of clutter blocking access, ABC News reports.

Firefighters couldn't enter the hoarder's Kingsford home to see if he was inside as his house was destroyed by fire.
Clutter prevented fire crews from entering the hoarder's Kingsford home which was destroyed by fire. Source: 7 News

Police and fire investigators plan to search the site when it is deemed safe.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

Neighbours reportedly told firefighters the man, aged in his 90s, lived alone and was inside the home at the time of the blaze, according to 7 News.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Luke Unsworth told ABC News the occupant had been hoarding material, which had built up and intensified the blaze.

"Firefighters tried very hard to make entry into that property but unfortunately the intense fire and the amount of personal items that were there, because it is a hoarder's property, actually prevented the firefighters from making that entry," he said.

NSW Police and emergency services planned to search the home on Saturday, once it is deemed structurally sound to enter.

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