The Town of Newburgh is mourning the loss of a young life after a fatal fire Friday morning on Rockwood Drive. Elaina Athans has more.

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NEWBURGH, N.Y. -- A 20-year-old dies after police say he was trying to help his sister in a fire.

"She was screaming that someone was still in there," said neighbor Donnette Smith.

Robert Dodd Jr., 20, was found dead in his bedroom after a fire ripped through a Town of Newburgh home. He was living there with his sister, Amanda, and helped saved her and then became trapped himself.

"I was shocked," said Smith. "I feel terrible. He was so young."

The fire broke out around 10 a.m. Friday along Rockwood Drive. When police arrived, they say the home was engulfed in flames and they were pouring out the living room.

"Flames were 10 to 12 feet in the air at the time," said Town of Newburgh Police Chief Michael Clancy.

Police say once Dodd realized there was a fire, he woke up his sister. She was able to get out, but he was not as lucky.

"Once they start going through the house, there might be some indicators as to why he wasn't able to get out. Apparently there's at least one animal, maybe some other animals in the house as well. There was indications that the one girl was trying to get a dog out," said Clancy.

Investigators are also looking into what caused the fire.