Fatal house fire

Firefighters were called to a house fire in Weaverhead Close, Thaxted this morning.

On arrival, crews reported that there was a fire on the ground floor of a terraced house that had spread to the first floor.

Crews requested assistance from three crews from Witham, Stansted and Harlow fire stations as well as an Aerial Ladder Platform from Chelmsford Fire Station.

After evacuating neighbours from either side of the property, firefighters worked to stop the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties. Firefighters used Positive Pressure Ventilation in the neighbouring properties’ lofts to prevent smoke damage while crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading.

The Aerial Ladder Platform was used by firefighters to tackle the fire from above.

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 11:15am.

An investigation is being carried out to determine the cause of the fire.

Three crews will remain at the scene throughout the day to monitor hotspots.

A man inside the house managed to escape and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Sadly, a woman died at the scene.

A statement from Essex Police below reads:

A woman has sadly died following a house fire in Weaverhead Close, Thaxted.

Emergency services were called shortly before 7.55am today, Saturday 27 November.

A man aged in his 60s managed to escape and was taken to hospital as a precaution

Sadly an elderly woman died at the scene.

We are carrying out a joint investigation with the fire service into the cause of the fire.

Update

An investigation was carried out to determine the cause of the fire and found it had started accidentally.