A woman has tragically died after a fire tore through a bungalow in Sheffield on Saturday night. Emergency services were called to the property on Hardy Place in the Upperthorpe area shortly before 11pm.
Firefighters' rescue attempt
Crews from Central and Rivelin fire stations rushed to the scene and managed to pull the woman from the burning building. Despite their immediate efforts, she was pronounced dead at the location. The firefighters brought the blaze under control and left the incident shortly after midnight.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue confirmed the fatality in a statement, noting that an investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway. South Yorkshire Police are supporting the fire service in this investigation.
A second tragic fire over Christmas
This incident follows another devastating house fire on Boxing Day in Gloucestershire, which claimed three lives. A mother, Fionnghuala Shearman, known as Nu, and her two children – seven-year-old Eve and four-year-old Ohner – died in a fire at their Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill near Stroud.
The fire, which occurred around 3am on Friday, was so intense it caused the roof to collapse and destroyed the ceilings and stairs. The children's father, a serving Gloucestershire Police officer, bravely attempted to save his family. He escaped through a bathroom window to try and reach the children's bedroom from outside but was unable to do so.
Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher stated that due to the ferocity of the flames, the parents could not reach the bedroom. When the father tried to re-enter the home, the fire had spread too far. The incident is currently understood to be a tragic accident.
Community support in wake of tragedy
A fundraiser set up for the father, Tom, by a friend has raised nearly £140,000. The fundraiser highlights that he is now facing unimaginable grief alongside the practical reality of having lost everything.
Authorities continue to investigate the precise causes of both fires as the communities affected come to terms with these profound losses.
