The neighbours of two people who died in a house fire in Somersham have expressed their sadness at losing a ‘friendly and lovely couple’ who were a key part of a close-knit community.
A man and woman, believed to be both in their 60s, died after a fire broke out in their home in Queens Road at around 8pm on Bank Holiday Monday (March 28).
One neighbour, who asked not to be identified, told The Hunts Post: “They were just a lovely couple and they adored each other and he would do anything for her.
“We were as close as neighbours could be – they never had a bad word to say about anyone.
“There was smoke pouring out of the house and then there were a couple of explosions.”
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cambridgeshire police were called to the incident after reports that the house was ablaze.
A fire service spokesman said: “Crews from Huntingdon, Chatteris and Sutton attended. Firefighters arrived to find the house well alight.
“Wearing breathing apparatus they extinguished the fire using hose reels and jets.”
Neighbours had gathered in the garden of the house opposite but some were told to go back into their properties after explosions were heard, while others were evacuated as firefighters tackled the blaze.
One neighbour said: “We were sat inside but could smell smoke coming through our vent, we weren’t sure where it was coming from. That’s when we went outside and saw the smoke coming over the trees then there was one boom after another.
“The couple were so friendly and he would always have a smile and say hello whenever he saw anyone – that is just the type of people they were.”
Another neighbour added: “I came into my lounge to see orange flames and the lights from the fire engine. I couldn’t believe what was happening. We knew them for years they were a really friendly couple.”
It is believed that the couple had lived in the house for 30 years.
The East of England Ambulance Service along with the Magpas air ambulance attended the scene.
Following the incident, two other people were taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, for treatment to “superficial burns.”
According to neighbours the two people taken to hospital had smashed a window to escape the blaze.
Yesterday (Tuesday) officers from Cambridgeshire police were at the house to determine how the fire had started but a spokesman for the force told The Hunts Post that the incident was “not being treated as suspicious”.
Neighbours also came to the house to put flowers down in remembrance of the couple with one card saying “two amazing people, may you rest in peace”.
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