Police investigators remained at the scene of a fatal house fire in County Durham village looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman.
Police and fire crews were called to Unity Terrace in Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, on Sunday (October 15) morning shortly after 9.30am.
A woman in her 40s, who has not been named was pronounced dead at the scene.
Read more: Woman dies after house fire in Tantobie, County Durham
Durham Police confirmed an investigation has been launched and officers remained at the scene today.
An officer from the Crime Scene Investigation Unit in a white boiler suit was seen going in and out of trhe property.
Durham Police force spokesperson said earlier: “Although the fire is not currently being treated as suspicious, an investigation into the circumstances of the incident has now been launched.
“Anyone with any information is asked to call Durham Constabulary, quoting incident reference 87 of October 15.”
A spokesperson for the Country Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) said: "At 9.34am yesterday (Sunday), we received a 999 call to their control room reporting a fire at a property on Unity Terrace in Tantobie.
"The Service’s Fire Control immediately dispatched three appliances from High Handenhold, Consett and Durham.
"The first crew arrived on scene within eight minutes and located a fire within a bedroom on the terrace house’s second floor.
"Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, entered the property and proceeded to conduct a search and extinguish the fire using hose reels.
"Sadly, one female occupant, in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene."
Chris Williams, Duty Group Manager for CDDFRS said: “As a firefighter, this is never the outcome we hope for and first and foremost, our thoughts are with the family and friends of those affected by this tragic incident.
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“We ask that people give her family the privacy they need as they attempt to come to terms with this tragedy.
“Any death in the region is a tragedy and we are working hard alongside Durham Constabulary in a joint investigation into the circumstances around the fire.”
“Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and friends.”
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