Witnesses said an overnight fire, at 8509 Scarboro Ct. in Potomac, was a smoky, destructive blaze, that took the life of it's owner, a man in his seventies.

"It woke us around 5 a.m.," says neighbor Cindy Learned. "I didn't see any flames. Just the smoke coming out, billowing from the top window there."

The victim was identified as Sung Y. Kwack, 74, of 8509 Scarboro Court.

Home video shows thick smoke, rising above the house in darkness.

A neighbor, who spotted flames through a kitchen window, called 911.

Firefighters, arriving here around 4:40 a.m., found the house interior fully aflame.

Once inside, they discovered the homeowner unconscious.

Investigators believe a pot on a stove that hadn't been turned off caused the fire.

A family friend, also in the house, escaped and was sent to the hospital.

"I think it must be a horrible shock when they hear."

Anne-Marie Doppman, who's lived across the street for years, says the deceased man's wife is in California visiting the couple's grown children.

"I know they had smoke detectors," she adds. "Whether they were on, or whether they had a battery, I'm really not sure".

Firefighters have been in the neighborhood, passing out fire safety pamphlets.

Many neighbors say they're now going to be more diligent in checking their smoke detectors.

The deceased man is remembered for his kindness and his meticulously cared-for garden.

"It's very tragic and very sad", says neighbor Andrew Weiss.

"He was very nice and made the neighborhood very beautiful."

Original story, 7 a.m.: One person is dead and another injured after a house fire in Potomac early Sunday morning, Montgomery County Fire says.

Fire and rescue units responded to the home at 8509 Scarboro Ct. at about 4:40 a.m. Fire officials say that the fire originated from a stove top in the kitchen, where the survivor said they were cooking. Officials say the fire burned for some time before being seen by a neighbor.

A sweep of the house found two men in their mid-70s, and the homeowner was found unconscious. First responders began advanced life support treatment before he was transported to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, where he was pronounced dead.

The other victim was taken to the hospital with minor smoke inhalation. He is in stable condition.

It took 65 firefighters about 20-25 minutes to control the fire, which caused about $400,000 in damage to the house and its contents.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.