Floral tributes have been left outside a home after a fire ripped through the property, tragically killing one person and seriously injuring another.
A man and a woman, both in their seventies, were pulled from the house in Minorca Close, Sunderland, after reports of a fire at around 4am on Monday, October 31 - though the woman sadly died at the scene.
The blaze is not believed to have been started deliberately, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue said, and the property has now been boarded up - with flowers and tributes appearing in the front garden on Tuesday.
"Three appliances were on the scene in a matter of minutes to extinguish the blaze,” the fire service said.
“A man and woman were rescued from the property by firefighters. However, the woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene while the man was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
“We contacted Northumbria Police as is a matter of course in incidents of this nature, it is currently under investigation, but we do not believe the fire was started deliberately and will help prepare a report for the coroner.”
Echoing comments from the fire service, Northumbria Police said they were satisfied there was “no third party involvement” and that a report will be made for the coroner.
Read next:
-
Drunk yob randomly headbutted schoolboy outside Co-op in Northumberland town
-
Woman in court accused of having banned 'Pit Bull-type' fighter dog in her Benwell home
-
Elderly Wallsend driver 'panicked' and fled scene of crash at Aldi before refusing blood test
-
Brave neighbour intervened after spotting Wallsend man punching partner in face
-
Three people in court after suspected fight in Whickham saw one suffer broken nose
