Investigation launched to ‘establish the cause’ after woman dies in Oldham house fire
An investigation has been launched to “establish the cause” after a woman has died following a house fire in Oldham.
Emergency services were called to reports of a fire on Saint Thomas Street North in Oldham at around around 4:10pm this past Saturday (24 June), and response teams from Greater Manchester Police (GMP), Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), and accompanying medical professionals rushed to the scene.
But despite the best efforts of first responders, a 42-year-old woman sadly lost her life.
As fire crews “worked through the night” to contain and extinguish the blaze, residents living in neighbouring homes were evacuated, and nearby streets were closed off – with some closures still thought to be in place.
Police confirmed the closures remained in place while enquiries are ongoing to “establish the full circumstances surrounding the fire”.
Revealing that the victim’s next of kin have been informed, and passing GMP’s condolences onto her loved ones, Chief Inspector Robert MacGregor confirmed that an investigation has now been launched, and “enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the fire” – with the woman’s family “kept updated” throughout the process.
“A number of residents remain displaced from their homes,” CI MacGregor added, “But have been provided with alternative accommodation by Oldham Council [and] we are working with partner agencies to get them back into their homes as safely and soon as possible.”
Jean-Pierre Helliwell, who is the Group Manager for Bolton and Wigan at GMFRS, also passed on the “thoughts and deepest condolences” of everyone at the fire service to the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones, and admitted to being “incredibly saddened” by the news.
He explained that fire crews “worked extremely hard” and “made use of all available resources” to bring the fire under control and eventually extinguish it.
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With the investigation now underway, GMP is urging anyone with any information on the incident to contact police on 101 quoting 2564 of 24/06/2023 or reporting to online at gmp.police.uk.
Information can also be shared anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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