NORTHRIDGE - A 64-year-old man who had been fighting with his wife apparently set their Northridge home ablaze, killing himself and causing damage to the house and an adjacent residence, authorities said today.

Police responded to a call of a family dispute about 9 p.m. Tuesday at 18907 W. Knapp St., where a woman told police that her husband was threatening to harm her, Capt. Steven Ruiz of the Los Angeles Police Department told a Newsreel camera crew.

After police arrived at the scene, the woman exited the home safely while her husband remained inside, police said.

Moments later flames broke out inside the residence, prompting officers to enter the home, here they discovered a fire inside one of the bedrooms, Ruiz said.

Arriving fire crews fought the fire defensively -- from the exterior -- because the blaze quickly spread to the home's attic, creating dangerous firefighting conditions inside, Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Greg Reynar told Newsreel.

The fire was knocked down by 33 firefighters in roughly 35 minutes, said LAFD spokeswoman d'Lisa Davies.

Firefighters discovered the deceased man in the bedroom, Ruiz said. His name was not immediately released.

911 calls to the LAPD indicated that the fire had been set by a suicidal man, LAPD Officer Karen Smith said late Tuesday, adding that this information was not immediately confirmed.

The fire caused significant damage to the home, and some damage to a home next door,