Man dies in Darlaston house fire

An elderly man has died following a house fire in Darlaston today.

The blaze broke out in a bedroom of the detached property in Cramp Hill the early hours of the morning.

Firefighters and paramedics were unable to save the man who has not been named but was in his 80s.

A woman, also believed to be in her 80s, managed to escape from the house at around 2.40am.

Fire investigators were today at the scene investigating the cause of the blaze in a rear upstairs room.

The rest of the building was smoke-logged although it is not believed to be suspicious at this stage.

No other properties were affected by the fire which was out by around 3.20am. Neighbours today spoke of their shock.

Grandmother-of-nine Maureen Holliday, aged 70, said: The blue lights woke me up at about 4am.

"I got up and came down to the gates. It is quite a shock really, they were an old couple and were quite private."

Another neighbour Margaret Fellows, 80, said: "I didn't hear anything. I think its terrible, there are a lot of elderly people around here."

Group commander Phil James, of West Midlands Fire Service, said: "When fire crews arrived the lady had already self-evacuated and gone to a neighbours to raise the alarm.

"The fire was confined to that one room and extingushed quite quickly. Unfortunately there was nothing that could be done to save the man."

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the woman who managed to escape from the house was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Another man also required treatment for the effects of smoke although the circumstances of this are not clear at this stage.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Suzie Fothergill said: "Two people, one woman from the property and a neighbour, a man, were treated at the scene for the effects of smoke inhalation. The woman was conveyed to Walsall Manor Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

"A third casualty, a man, was found at the property. The patient was assessed at the scene by crews but unfortunately nothing could be done to save the man who was confirmed deceased at the scene."

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Catherine Hickman said: "Initial indications are that the fire is not believed to be suspicious, however a full inquiry will be conducted by specialist fire investigators."