Two people feared dead in Northumberland house fire

Two people are believed to have died in a house fire in Lucker this morning.
The scene of the fire. Picture by Jane ColtmanThe scene of the fire. Picture by Jane Coltman
The scene of the fire. Picture by Jane Coltman

Emergency services were called to the blaze at 5.39am. Police, the fire service and ambulance staff attended and found a severely-damaged terraced house on fire, next to the Apple Inn. The next-door property suffered minor fire damage.

The fire service extinguished the fire and it is believed that the bodies of possibly two occupants are inside the house. Police are making inquiries to identify the deceased.

James Tait, a resident of Lucker, who alerted the fire brigade to the house blaze that killed two people. Picture by Ian SmithJames Tait, a resident of Lucker, who alerted the fire brigade to the house blaze that killed two people. Picture by Ian Smith
James Tait, a resident of Lucker, who alerted the fire brigade to the house blaze that killed two people. Picture by Ian Smith
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Police and the fire service are carrying out inquiries into the cause of the fire. The investigation is at an early stage.

A spokesman from the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews from Belford, Seahouses and Alnwick attended and on arrival the property was well alight. Specialist search teams are attending the scene and we are supporting Northumbria Police who are leading inquiries.”

UPDATE (12.50pm): Coun Lance Robson, who is chairman of Adderstone with Lucker Parish Council, has described the incident as ‘a tragedy for the whole village’. He said: “It is the second time in the last 30 years where people have lost their lives in fires in Lucker. There was a fire at Lucker Hall in 1987 when the owner and his wife died.”

UPDATE 2.30pm): James Tait, who lives near the house that caught fire, was the first to see the blaze and alert the fire brigade.

A policeman at the scene of the Lucker house fire. Picture by Jane ColtmanA policeman at the scene of the Lucker house fire. Picture by Jane Coltman
A policeman at the scene of the Lucker house fire. Picture by Jane Coltman
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He told the Gazette: “It was just after 5am when I heard a couple of noises. I thought it was someone maybe in my back yard.

“I got up, looked out of my window and saw a bright orange glow. The fire was already through the roof by then.

“Your first reaction is to help but by that point, the fire was well alight. It’s quite difficult to get your head around what has happened.”

He said he believed the house had been rented by an elderly couple for about three years. He had regularly seen the man walking his dogs around the village.