A tragic kitchen fire in County Durham has claimed the life of a man in his 90s, believed to be caused by a chip pan left unattended
County Durham: It’s really sad to hear about an elderly man who lost his life in a kitchen fire. The fire happened in West Auckland, and it seems like a chip pan was left unattended.
The fire service got the call around 10:44 am on January 6, and they were quick to respond. Within six minutes, firefighters from Bishop Auckland were on the scene. Sadly, they found the man in his 90s had already passed away.
Investigators from the fire service and the police are looking into what happened. They believe the unattended chip pan started the fire. Chris Williams from the fire service expressed his condolences to the family, highlighting how serious fire risks can be.
He reminded everyone that fire can be deadly and urged people to check their smoke alarms. It’s so important to have working alarms in every home. If anyone needs help, the fire service can install alarms during free safety visits.
Williams also encouraged folks to check on their neighbors, especially older people living alone. A little help can go a long way in ensuring everyone stays safe.
Firefighters will be around to offer advice and support to the community. If you want to set up a free Home Fire Safety Visit, just call 0345 223 4221 or check out the fire service’s website.
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