'We tried to get in there but the smoke threw us back': Neighbours tell of efforts to rescue man killed in Black Country house fire
Neighbours have today told of how they attempted to fight through smoke to rescue a man killed in a house fire in the Black Country.
The man, aged in his 60s, died after a fire broke out in a terraced house in Broadwell Road, Oldbury.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 1.10pm on Thursday and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
His death is not being treated as suspicious, although the cause of the blaze is still being investigated.
Nobody else was injured in the fire.
Residents in the Broadwell Road area have spoken of their shock after the fire.
Neighbour Peter Bromley said: "We tried to get in there – but the smoke threw us both back. We couldn't get in to get him out – we tried to open the door but the smoke was too thick and black.
"It was about 12.30pm – they were until about 6pm. The neighbour at the end told my friend and he got me – they saw the smoke coming out.
"I knew him as a neighbour, I would speak to him. He had lived there for a while, his partner died a couple of years ago."
Ann Ward said: "I was working from home at the time but our living room is on the back of the property so I didn't see anything. It was only when I noticed all the police and fire engines which was about 2pm.
"They had been here for quite a while by then, all the red tape was across the door of the property, and there was blue tape blocking the road. Nothing could come up and down the road – that was until about 3.30pm or 4pm.
"There was a police car here till about 6.30pm and another fire compliance vehicle turned up and they went back into the property.
"It was a man on his own who live there – I think he lost his wife some years ago. I didn't really know him, it's a small community of us few here, we say hello in passing but we don't knock doors unless we need help. I've only really seen him in passing."
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "When I came home from work I saw all the fire and police were there – this was about 2pm. They had closed the road off.
"I have never seen anyone who lives in that house before so I don't know him."
'Shame'
A passer-by, who gave his name as Alex, said: "I was just told about it in the shop – it's such a shame to hear someone lost their life.
"I often walk down this road but I've never seen who lives there."
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: "We were called to reports of a fire at a property on Broadwell Road, Oldbury at around 1pm yesterday.
"Tragically, the body of a man in his 60s was found at the property.
"His death is not being treated as suspicious and the matter has been passed to the coroner."
Eight firefighters attended the scene and after extinguishing the fire, left the scene in the hands of fire investigators and police.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "At 12.57pm on Thursday 18 March we were alerted to a fire in the front room of a ground floor flat of a two storey terrace property in Broadwell Road, Oldbury.
"A fire engine from Tipton and a Brigade Response Vehicle from Oldbury Fire Station and eight firefighters attended the scene, with the first crew arriving in three minutes.
"Two breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet were used to tackle the fire. Sadly a male was confirmed deceased at the scene.
"Firefighters carried out the necessary ventilation before leaving the scene in the hands of fire investigators and police colleagues."
