Shock as woman dies in house fire

Jan 28 2008 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

A WOMAN has died after a house fire.

The 47-year-old woman, named locally as care home worker Jane Taylor, died after a fire broke out at her home in Western Drive, Gabalfa, Cardiff, just before 9.15pm last night.

Firefighters, police and an ambulance attended the blaze, and today police officers were still outside the semi-detached property.

Neil Kent, 32, who lives in the street, said he saw the fire after returning home.

He said: “We saw black smoke billowing out of the top bedroom window. A couple of uniformed officers arrived and with one short sharp kick, broke the front door in.

“They came out a few minutes later then two fire engines and an ambulance came to the scene. An ambulance trolley was outside the house for about 20 or 30 minutes.”

The ambulance service said it did not transport anyone to hospital.

Pam Tugwell, 56, a resident of Western Drive for 27 years, said: “My husband heard noises. There was a lot of banging.

“We’ve had trouble with people knocking car windows in so we came outside and then we saw all the police, an ambulance and fire engines.”

Mrs Taylor, who lived with her husband Brian, was described by Mrs Tugwell as “well-liked”.

“She worked in a local care home around the corner,” she said. “She was very well-known and very well-liked.”

Firefighters in breathing apparatus put out the flames.

Today, there was evidence of smoke damage in the eves of the house and at an upstairs window.

A tarpaulin sheet was covering a window and the house was cordoned off. There were police officers at the front and back of the house and a team was preparing to investigate.

Insp Paul McCarthy from South Wales Police said the investigation was in its early stages. He said: “A house fire report was made to us at 9.14pm last night and we still have officers at the scene.

“We are continuing our investigation today.”

A police spokeswoman said: “After the fire was put out the body of a 47-year-old female was found.

“The cause of the fire is unexplained so there are scenes of crime officers as well as the fire service there.”

david.james@mediawales.co.uk