A fire in Leigh claimed a life. Emergency services responded to the blaze in an upstairs flat early Monday.
The fire service received a call at 3:45 AM, and four fire engines arrived quickly. Firefighters used hoses, ladders, and even a drone to help. Police confirmed someone died in the flat.
Online videos showed firefighters working, with smoke coming from the windows above. Detectives and fire investigators are investigating the fire’s cause.
The fire was out by mid-morning, but smoke blackened the building’s brick. Investigators, wearing white suits and masks, carefully examined the scene for clues.
The ground floor looked mostly okay, but the flat above was badly damaged. There was a hole in the roof, window frames were charred, and wallpaper peeled off.
Police haven’t identified the man yet, though sources say he was originally from Pakistan. The shop below was called Cha Cha Gee Poundplus, which locals said was a food outlet.
The street has many small shops, and residents came to see the scene, standing behind the police cordon. A local said the man was about sixty and well-liked in the area.
A neighbor saw flashing blue lights, ambulances, and fire engines. Emergency services cut through the shop shutters. The neighbor, who knew the man upstairs, noted that the shop had closed.
A photo showed a court order on the shop, dated January 16, citing a rat infestation and warning of injury to health.