A 25-year-old woman has died in a devastating house fire in Totton, while a man in his 60s fights for life in hospital.
Blaze Rips Through Northlands Road Home
The inferno broke out just before 11pm on Saturday at a property on Northlands Road. Trapped upstairs, the young woman could not escape as the flames engulfed the house. Her parents made it out, but neighbours described the scene as a terrifying “tunnel of fire” that blasted their front door off its hinges.
One quick-thinking neighbour battled the flames at the front while his wife called 999 after their son raised the alarm.
Firefighters Blocked by Collapsed Staircase
Fire crews couldn’t reach the woman upstairs as the staircase was destroyed early in the blaze. A nurse at the scene comforted the devastated parents in the garden:
“I heard the mum and dad. They were in the back garden. Sadly their daughter – they couldn’t get her down. The smoke was acrid, I couldn’t even breathe. I just got a chair and blankets and sat with the parents. They were in shock.”
Local Community Left Reeling
Neighbours are shaken by the tragedy. One resident said:
“Horrible, horrible, horrible. It is really sad. Dreadful. It is very quiet around here normally. I am just so sorry that someone lost their life.”
Police and Fire Services Launch Investigation
Hampshire Police and Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service are probing the blaze. A file will be prepared for the coroner ahead of a formal inquest.
A police spokesperson said:
“Despite the very best efforts of the emergency services, a 25-year-old woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her next of kin have been notified.”
“A man in his 60s, who was also inside the property at the time, has been taken to hospital and is in a life-threatening condition.”
“We ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this unimaginably difficult time and refrain from speculation.”
A safety cordon remains in place as emergency crews and Southern Electric workers continue investigations and repairs.
