On 6 January 2013 at 16:35 hours, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service’s Control Room were contacted by Lothian and Borders Police requesting a Fire Investigation Officer attend an address in Victoria Road, Newtongrange, Midlothian to conduct an investigation following a sudden death.
A fire appliance from Dalkeith fire station, a Fire Investigation Officer and the Fire Investigation Unit attended at the scene.
On arrival, firefighters were met by police officers, who had forced entry to the detached bungalow following concerns that the occupant, an 86 year old man, had not been seen recently in the local area.
Inside the house there had been a small fire, which had self-extinguished, and this is where the male occupant had been discovered by police, unfortunately deceased.
Initial investigations have identified that the fire was most likely an ‘accidental dwelling fire’ and as such there appear to be no suspicious circumstances. Investigations are still on-going.
It is not clear when the fire happened but Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service had not received any reports of a fire at that address in the preceding days. It would seem that no-one was aware that a fire had occurred and it wasn’t until concerns were raised about the occupier not being seen that emergency services were alerted.
Firefighters from Dalkeith fire station will be conducting reassurance visits and offering free Home Safety Visits in the area, over the coming days.
so sorry read about the Sudden death of a male and my wholehearted Condolinces go to the whole family at this time
Thank you Roy always very sad to report a suspected fire fatality.