Death of woman killed in Sedgley house fire not suspicious
The death of a woman who was killed in a Black Country house fire is not being treated as suspicious, police have confirmed.
The woman, named locally as Michelle, was killed when a fire broke out at the house in Beacon Lane, Sedgley, at around 2.30pm on Saturday.
A 16-year-old girl was seriously injured but survived along with a 43-year-old man who was also inside the house.
Heroic neighbours and passers-by rushed to help, climbing a ladder to reach the first floor of the two-storey house, but were unable to rescue Michelle in the few minutes before fire crews arrived.
Emergency services treated the 43-year-old woman once firefighters brought her out of the house but she was declared dead at the scene.
Police and fire investigators returned to the house on Sunday and have now confirmed that Michelle's death is not being treated as suspicious.
Meanwhile the fire-damaged house has now been boarded up and floral tributes have been left at the scene.
Friends paid to tribute to Sedgley's "Scottish queen" and described her as a much-loved character.
Watch: Firefighter says severity of blaze was 10 out of 10
The girl remained in a critical but stable condition on Monday morning but the man has been discharged. She suffered serious burns.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: "Officers investigating a fatal fire in Sedgley, Dudley on Saturday are not treating the death of a 43-year-old woman as suspicious.
"This will be referred to the coroner.
"A 16-year-old girl, who was injured in the fire, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition."
A fundraiser for the family involved has already raised more than £6,000 from 421 donors.
