Fatal house fire

UPDATE 4:30pm

Essex Police has confirmed that a man has sadly died at the scene. The statement reads:

A man has died following a fire at an address in Saffron Walden.

Emergency services were called to Blacklands Close at around 2.30am today (Sunday 10 January).

Firefighters have extinguished the fire and will remain at the scene to make it safe.

Sadly, a man who was inside the property died at the scene.

Fire investigators have not been able to establish the cause of the fire.

The man’s death is being treated as unexplained and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

UPDATE 2pm

An investigation into the cause of the fire has been carried out and the cause is undetermined. It has been recorded as accidental or deliberate, both possibilities. 

UPDATE 1pm

Firefighters have extinguished the fire and will remain at the scene to make it safe. 

UPDATE 9:30am

Crews from Saffron Walden and Chelmsford (Aerial Ladder Platform) were sent to the scene to relieve crews and have been dampening down the fire.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will take place this morning.

UPDATE 7:15am

Firefighters have been extinguishing the fire in sections and our USAR team is assessing the building ahead of a fire investigation this morning.

UPDATE 4:45am

Firefighters have surrounded the fire and are extinguishing it in sections while monitoring hotspots.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will take place in the morning.

Firefighters are currently at the scene of a house fire in Saffron Walden after a neighbour called the fire service.

On arrival, crews reported that a detached two-storey house was 100% alight.

The roof of the property has collapsed and crews are currently working to extinguish the fire in sections.

Our Urban Search and Rescue team has been called to assist.

If you live in the area, please keep your windows and doors shut.

This is an ongoing incident and details will be updated.