Fatal fire deemed accidental

We can confirm that the cause of a fatal fire in Stoke-on-Trent was accidental.

Firefighters were sent to Botesworth Gardens in Longport at just after 8.30pm on Tuesday 17 December.

They extinguished the fire and found a woman in her 80s inside.

Sadly, she died at the scene.

We have been working alongside our colleagues at Staffordshire Police to determine how the fire started, and can now confirm that it was accidental.

We’d like to extend our sincere condolences to the woman’s family at this deeply traumatic time.