'Firework' probe following death

A 59-year-old woman died in the fire

Police are expected to release more details later after a woman died in a house fire which neighbours suggested was started by a firework.

The woman, aged 59, died in the blaze in Wallace Road, Bodmin, Cornwall on Thursday night.

Her 17-year-old son escaped after jumping from the first floor after she helped him to a window.

Newspaper reports have suggested the family may have suffered harassment from some local youths.

A major police investigation is now under way into the cause of the fire.

Smoke inhalation

A passer-by saw the front door of the house on fire at about 1915 GMT and alerted the emergency services.

By the time crews arrived the blaze had engulfed the three-storey property and begun spreading to adjacent buildings.

In a statement, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said conditions inside the house were "extremely hazardous for firefighters".

"Whilst tackling the fire and searching the building, the crews found a 59-year-old female who was confirmed deceased at the scene," it said.

Her son survived because she pushed him out of the window, but she got trapped by the fire Doreen Rowe, neighbour

The woman's son was taken to Treliske Hospital, in Truro, where he was treated for smoke inhalation and later released.

Officers from the Specialist Fire Investigation Team have been unable to gain full access to the house because of safety concerns.

But fire service spokesman Steve Halstead said: "Obviously with it being 5 November, the possibility that fireworks were involved is one of the things that we are looking at and that is a factor in our investigation.

"But we cannot jump to conclusions. We have a very damaged building and we are looking at the fire scene to excavate debris to discover clues."

Thirty firefighters were called to tackle the blaze and two needed treatment for heat exhaustion.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "A full investigation will now take place jointly with the fire and police to establish the cause of the fire.

"We are keen to speak to anyone who might have any information."

Neighbour Doreen Rowe, 59, told the Daily Mail newspaper the woman was "a dear old soul and a hero".

"Her son survived because she pushed him out of the window, but she got trapped by the fire."