A FIRE that ended a man's life in north-west NSW started in a next-door unit, investigations have revealed.
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Human remains were found in the burned-out dwelling at Walgett after the blaze was finally extinguished on Saturday morning.
Specialist officers from NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW spent the weekend examining the Euroka Street address.
The police crime scene unit and Fire and Rescue NSW's fire investigator had made headway, Andrew Spliet from Castlereagh Local Area Command reported yesterday.
The point of origin had been determined, but they were still investigating the source of the fire, he said.
"The fire broke out in a single dwelling divided into four separate units," he said.
"The unit next door to the man's caught alight."
An earlier statement from NSW Police had said the body was believed to be that of a 69-year-old man.
Detective Inspector Spliet reported the victim had been positively identified since then, and police were in the process of informing the family.
Investigators had at first appealed for anyone with information about "unusual or suspicious activity" to come forward, but yesterday the crime manager said the fire was not considered suspicious.
"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances," Detective Inspector Spliet said.
"A report will be prepared for the coroner."
Emergency services responded to reports of a fire about 5.30am on Saturday.
Firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours and the damage it caused was almost complete.
"The whole place will pretty much have to be demolished," Detective Inspector Spliet said.
While emergency services did their work, townsfolk talked about the circumstances of the fire and the suspected victim.
George Murray, born and raised at Walgett, said the man who lived at the Euroka Street address had been "not a bad bloke".
The man had been pretty well-known and got on well with everyone in the town, Mr Murray said.