Victim of Durham house fire named locally as 'Hamish'

A 61-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene following a fire in Beech Close, in Brasside, on the outskirts of Durham City, which broke out at about 6pm.

Today, police have cordoned off the end-terrace house, where the door has been smashed, windows are wide open and there is visible smoke damage.

The victim has not yet been officially named but neighbours said he was a former prison officer known as Hamish, though that was not his real name.

One, who did not wish to be identified, spoke of how he had seen the emergency services respond to the blaze. Another said he had worked with "Hamish".

A joint police and fire service investigation has been launched to establish the cause of the fire.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “Police officers, the fire service and paramedics attended a blaze at Beech Close, Brasside, Durham at 6.20pm last night.

“Sadly, despite all efforts, a 61-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A joint investigation between Durham Constabulary and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is now underway to establish the cause of the fire.”

A spokeswoman for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue said last night: "We have attended a house fire at Beech Close, Brasside this evening.

"Tragically, a male adult was pronounced dead at the scene. A joint Fire and Police investigation will be conducted.

“Two appliances from Durham were dispatched and we were in attendance within five minutes.

“The first message we received back was that there was possible persons reported (trapped) and further appliances were dispatched.

“The stop message was received at around 6.30pm. There was just one person and it was quite a contained fire.

“There will be a joint level three fire investigation carried out tomorrow with ourselves and the police. That is the procedure when there has been a fire fatality."

The house is close to Low Newton women's prison and many serving and former prison officers live in the area.