A tragic house fire in West Auckland has left a local community mourning the loss of a man in his 90s
West Auckland: A heartbreaking incident unfolded when a house fire claimed the life of a man in his 90s. Firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving a call about a kitchen fire on Monday morning.
Two fire engines from Bishop Auckland quickly arrived and confirmed that the fire was under control. Sadly, emergency services later reported that the elderly man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the fire service and Durham Police believe the fire was caused by an unattended chip pan. A nearby resident expressed their sorrow, saying it was a busy scene with police and fire engines everywhere.
Durham Police will be submitting a report to the coroner regarding the incident. Chris Williams, a Group Manager from the fire service, paid tribute to the man and emphasized the dangers of kitchen fires.
He urged everyone to ensure they have working smoke alarms and to check them weekly. If anyone needs help, they should reach out to the fire service for assistance.
Williams also encouraged neighbors to look out for each other, especially the elderly living alone, and to help them with their smoke alarms. The fire service plans to be active in the area, offering reassurance and fire safety advice to residents.