Woman, 89, missing after house fire causes structural collapse

FIRE services say an investigation into an Exeter house fire, where one elderly woman is still unaccounted for, cannot yet take place due to an ‘unstable structure.’

This comes as firefighters attended the scene of a single storey building house fire in Exeter at approximately 1am yesterday, and said it was “well alight” when they arrived.

A spokesperson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said that a total of nine fire engines and a Special Operations crew attended the scene at approximately 1.05am on Monday from Beacon Lane to Harrington Lane.

The spokesperson added that there was “severe damage, the roof collapsed and a partial collapse to the walls”.

They later released an update which said that 100% of the property had been damaged by fire and smoke, and there had been ‘significant structural collapse.’

They added that a fire investigation was unable to start due to the unstable structure.

Police have confirmed an 89-yearold woman was still unaccounted for, and added it was believed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the blaze.

The force’s statement reads: “In the early hours of Monday 5th April, firefighters from the Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service along with officers from Devon & Cornwall Police, attended the scene of a fire in Beacon Heath, Exeter.

“Extensive fire damage has been caused to the property and the building assessed as unsafe to enter at this time.

“An 89-year-old female resident remains unaccounted for and a police cordon remains in place. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding this incident.

“Anyone with any relevant information is asked to contact police by emailing 101@dc.police.uk or by phone on 101 quoting log 58 05/04/21.”