Investigations continue into the cause of a fatal fire in Sunderland which claimed the life of a man in his 60s.
At about 8.40pm on Tuesday, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) received a report of a fire at a home on Elmwood Street in the Millfield area.
Crews from Farringdon, Marley Park and Wahington attended the scene and quickly entered to extinguish the blaze.
They rescued a man in his 60s who was inside and he was immediately attended to by the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) paramedics.
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However, he was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics.
The terraced home was significantly damaged from fire and smoke with an upstairs window left blackened.
Police have confirmed that the man's next of kin have been informed of his death and a joint investigation between TWFRS and Northumbria Police is now under way to find out what happened.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Lynsey McVay, of TWFRS, said: “Any death is a tragedy and our thoughts are very much with the man’s family at this time.
“Our crews were on scene in a matter of minutes and were able to rescue the man from the house very soon after arriving at the property.
“I want to applaud the crews, and our Fire Control, for their quick actions in attending the incident and for doing everything they could to bring the occupant to safety.
“Our fire investigators will now be supporting Northumbria Police as they carry out enquiries to establish the circumstances around the incident."
Detective Inspector Ed Hollingsworth, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a tragic incident and enquiries are ongoing to trace the man’s next of kin.
“An investigation has been launched alongside the fire service as to the cause of the blaze and that is very much ongoing. However, at this early stage, it is not believed to be suspicious.”
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact police through their website, or by calling 101, quoting reference NP-20220208-1037.
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