Richmond: Pensioner dies in fatal fire at £2.5million home as police launch investigation

The Met and fire service are investigating after the blaze ripped through the three-storey house on Monday evening
The blaze scene in Onslow Road, Richmond
UKNIP
John Dunne @jhdunne16 January 2024

An investigation has been launched after a pensioner died when a blaze tore through his £2.5millon south-west London house.

The man, who had lived at the three-storey Victorian home for decades, was found dead on Monday evening.

Four fire engines and 25 firefighters were scrambled to the fire in Onslow Road after they were alerted by neighbours.

The neighbourhood is home to a number of actors and broadcasters including the BBC's David Attenborough.

A fire service statement said: "Sadly, a man has died following a house fire in Richmond.

"Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters responded to a fire on Onslow Road, in a building of three floors. Part of the ground floor was damaged by the fire.

"A man was found in the home, and sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"The Brigade was called at 2008, and the fire was under control by 2205. Firefighters from Richmond, Kingston and Twickenham fire stations attended the scene.

"The fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service."

Investigators will trawl through the charred wreckage of the house to try to establish how it started. The property is cordoned off as experts attempt to make it safe for the work to be carried out."

A police statement said: "An elderly man has died following a fire in Richmond.

"Police were called at 20:14hrs on Monday, 15 January to the fire at an address in Onslow Road, Richmond.

"Some neighbouring addresses were evacuated as a precaution.

"The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Police remain at the scene."

A neighbour said: "It's very sad, the man had lived here for some time.

"His wife died a while back. He was a nice man."

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 8:09pm to reports of a fire on Onslow Road, Richmond. “We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team (HART)” “Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.”

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