Fire death shocks street
A MUM has spoken of the moment smoke filled her home as her neighbour died in an early morning house fire.
Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service launched an investigation after a man was killed in the fire in Marlborough Road, Kirkby-in-ashfield.
The incident happened just before 2am yesterday. Neighbours were shocked by the “tragic” fire.
Tyrene Fernandes, who lives next door to the terraced house, said her 11-year-old daughter burst into her bedroom saying she could hear “weird noises”.
As she told her to go back to bed, smoke began to fill their home.
“I ran to the kitchen to check it was not my house,” the 31-year-old said.
“The smoke seemed like it was coming through my walls. It was a big fire. I saw it as I ran out into the street.
“My daughter is quite shaken up. I’m glad she woke us up really. We cannot go back into the house until they have finished [investigating].
“He kept himself to himself. He lived on his own and we only saw him now and again. It’s really, really sad. It’s tragic.”
The house was left visibly damaged, with windows blown out and smoke scarring.
Investigators were seen at the scene and a cordon remained in place for of yesterday.
Stewart Shermer,
73, who lives a few doors up, said he went to school with the man who died in the fire.
“I went to junior school with him,” he said.
“That was back in 1955. It is a very sad day.
“I’ve not spoken to him for many years. He kept to himself.”
Another resident, Sally Chadwick, 22, added: “We did not see anything in the night but we heard everything this morning.
“We saw the cordon this morning. It is very, very sad.”
The man was pronounced dead at the scene and residents were evacuated and rehoused.
Crews from Ashfield, Mansfield, Blidworth and Alfreton, Derbyshire, attended and used breathing apparatus, hose reels and positive pressure ventilation to put out the fire.
Detective Sergeant Mark Shaw, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We’re keeping an open mind while we determine what caused the blaze but at the moment there’s no suggestion of suspicious circumstances.
“The man’s family have been informed and we’re working to support them during this difficult time.
“We understand residents living nearby will have concerns about what happened and we’re working with our colleagues at the fire service to reassure them as best we can during the current lockdown.”
Mick Sharman, area manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “After this serious incident I would like to remind people the guidance and importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes and businesses. “You should have at least one working smoke alarm on every level, test your alarms regularly and change your smoke alarm if it is not working.
“Smoke alarms do save lives and we will continue to do our best to keep our communities safe.”
The smoke seemed like it was coming through the walls. It was a big fire. It’s tragic
Tyrene Fernandes, neighbour