Two die in separate house fires

Sean Bowers was found by firefighters inside the house

Two men have died in separate house fires and a woman remains critically injured.

During the early hours of Monday, firefighters were called to a blaze at a house in Penyffordd in Flintshire where a young man was found dead.

He was later named by police as Sean Bowers, who was in his 20s.

Meanwhile on Sunday, a 77-year-old man died following a fire at a house in Tonypandy in Rhondda Cynon Taf. A woman was seriously injured.

The 68-year-old is being treated at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.

South Wales Fire Service have said early indications suggested candles and smoking materials were a factor in the fire in Ynyscynon Road.

An unattended chip pan is blamed for the fire at Penyffordd

The house was fitted with a smoke alarm but a spokesman said that on arrival fire officers were confronted with an intense fire at the front the building.

The man who died and the injured woman were found in an upstairs bedroom. The woman was unconscious.

On Monday, firefighters from North Wales Fire Service were called to a blaze at a property in Coed Môr, Penyffordd, near Ffynnongroew at 0127 BST.

Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property using hose reel water jets to extinguish the fire and found a man in his early 20s inside.

He was later pronounced dead.

Investigators said they suspect the fire was caused by a chip pan overheating after being left unattended.

Candles and smoking materials were found at the house in Tonypandy

Three people who were in the upstairs of the house managed to escape the fire.

Colin Hanks, assistant chief fire officer, said it was the second fatality in the last two months in similar circumstances.

He said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the young man at this very sad time.

"I urge people to ensure they never leave cooking unattended as fire can develop in minutes and the results can be devastating as we have seen today."

A joint investigation is now being carried out into the cause of the fire by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police.

Witnesses to the fires are being asked to contact the police.