A pensioner has died after a house fire in Nottinghamshire. Emergency services were called to Prior Close in Sutton-in-Ashfield at around 1.15pm on Friday, December 16 following reports of a fire.
Fire crews from Ashfield, Mansfield, and Alfreton attended the scene and firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus to tackle the fire. After the fire was extinguished, a man in his 80s was discovered inside the property and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A joint investigation between Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Nottinghamshire Police into the cause of the fire remains ongoing. Group Manager Jonathan Holford, of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “On behalf of all of us at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, I would like to extend my condolences to the man’s family and friends for their loss.
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“We are grateful to the other blue light services for their support at the scene.” Detective Inspector Paul Lefford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “I’d like to pass on my sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends during this difficult time. The man’s death is not currently being treated as suspicious.
“Formal identification will be carried out in due course and a file will be prepared for the coroner.” Residents expressed their sorrow after hearing of their neighbour's death.
Darren Maxwell, 48, who works as a window cleaner, said: "It is really upsetting to hear about, you don't expect it to happen on your street. It is just really awful. I knew him, I think he had lived on here for as long as anyone could remember - at least as long as I've been here."
Maggie Walaszec, 43, and Kris Urbanink, 49, who run a café, were both saddened by the incident. "That is a really shocking thing to hear about your neighbour, I can't believe it," Ms Walaszec said.
"It is very upsetting to know that has happened. I feel very sorry for his family and friends."
Mr Urbanink added: "That is so awful, you do not expect something like that. I did not know him but I'm very sad for his family."
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "It is a really horrible thing to have happened. I just saw the vans and police later on, I did not think it would be something like this."
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