A man has died following a house fire in County Durham. Emergency services were called to an area of Witton Park this morning after a blaze at a property.
Fire started in kitchen
The fire is understood to have started in the kitchen of a property on Park Road shortly after 8am. A man in his 40s was pronounced dead at the scene.
A joint police and fire service investigation has since been launched to determine the cause of the fire. It is not being treated as suspicious.
Police statement
A statement from Durham Constabulary said: "Police were alerted by the fire service to an address in Park Road shortly after 8.15am today. Firefighters entered the building after reports that a man was inside the property."
"A man in his 40s was brought from the house but, despite the best efforts of emergency crews, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Early indications suggest that the fire appears to have started in the kitchen of the property."
The force added: "Although there is no evidence at this stage to indicate anything suspicious, a joint police and fire investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the fire. Police officers remain on the scene while forensic investigations continue."
Ambulance response
The North East Ambulance Service said they were called to the Woodside area of Bishop Auckland at 8.12am and dispatched a clinical team leader to the scene.
