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Man dies in Shropshire house fire
Wednesday 24th November 2010, 3:15PM GMT.
Police outside the property in Hodnet. Picture: Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service'
A MAN HAS died after suffering “significant burns” in a house fire which broke out at his north Shropshire home.
The man, who was today named locally as John Reece, died during the blaze at his home in The Meadow, Hodnet, near Market Drayton.
The fire broke out yesterday at about 12.30pm.
It is believed the fire began in the living room of the house.
Neighbours today said that Mr Reece, who is believed to have lived alone with his dog, was an ex-Navy veteran aged between 60 and 70.
Bobby Morgan, a neighbour and friend of Mr Reece, said he was a “lovely man”.
He said: “You would always see him walking his dog to the local shop. I used to talk to him a lot, especially when I was younger.
“He was ex-Navy and had a tattoo of a ship on his chest. He will be missed by everyone around here.”
Claire Ashton, another neighbour, said: “He has lived here a long time. I have been here for 15 years and he was here longer than that.”
Andy Johnson, area manager for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said officers were due to return to the house today to determine the cause of the fire.
He said: “When we entered the building an elderly gentleman was found and sadly pronounced dead.
“It was a relatively small fire which was extinguished very quickly. The neighbours raised the alarm after hearing smoke alarms going off.”
Claire Thomas, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “Crews arrived to find a man who had suffered significant burns.”
A spokesman for West Mercia Police said the coroner for North and Mid Shropshire, Mr John Ellery, has been informed and next of kin are being contacted.
By Andrew Morris
UK News
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Rest in peace – you were a good neighbour and we are thinking of your family.
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Rest in peace John.
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I watched this terrible tragedy develop while walking my dog, and mention must be made of the bravery of the ambulance crew who were the first emergency service to arrive at the address. Both Paramedics did everything they could to gain entry to the house but neither were able to do so because of the smoke, as soon as the fire brigade had the fire under control they entered the house with no breathing apparatus or heat resistant clothing. Brave young men indeed as are the retained fire crew of Hodnet. If anything that could be done to save the victim of this awful incident then im sure it was done by the members of our emergency services.
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