Halesowen fire 'not suspicious' as man dies in major house blaze
A serious house fire which killed a 48-year-old man is not being treated as suspicious, police have said.
The 48-year-old man was pulled out of the house in School Lane by firefighters on Tuesday evening and treated by paramedics but could not be saved.
The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed but West Midlands Police said it is not thought to have been suspicious.
Two fire engines and one brigade response vehicle were sent to the scene, crewed by 13 firefighters from Haden Cross and Woodgate Valley, after an emergency call at around 7.40pm.
A fire service spokesman said: "A man, believed to be in his late 40s, was rescued by our crews. In spite of their efforts and those of the ambulance service he was unfortunately confirmed deceased at the scene.
"Our fire investigators were at the scene last night and the cause is still under investigation."
All of the ground floor of the property was damaged by fire and the entire property was damaged by smoke.
Some of the charred wreckage was outside of the house on Wednesday afternoon, where fire investigators and officers from West Midlands Police were examining the scene.
Emergency vehicles were parked outside but the road was back open as normal.
Investigators were at the scene overnight and were continuing their work on Wednesday to establish how the fire started.
West Midlands Police said they were helping the fire service investigation.
A force spokesman said: "Sadly a man believed to be 48 years old died. We're working hard to identify his family.
"At this time, the fire is not suspicious."
Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor also attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "On arrival, crews discovered one patient, a man, who had been rescued from the house by fire service colleagues.
"The man was in a critical condition and ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support.
"However, despite everyone’s best efforts it sadly became apparent nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”
