Oxford Homeless Killed in Fire

By Emma-Kate Lidbury


DETECTIVES investigating the Oxford house fire in which two people died today appealed for help in discovering precisely when the fire started.

Officers believe the blaze may have started two hours before firefighters were called.

It is thought the fire - at Redbridge Cottage in Old Abingdon Road - may have been smouldering for some time before the emergency services were alerted at about 4.40am on Tuesday. Fire investigators think the fire may have started between 2.30am and 3am.

A motorist passing the house spotted smoke and called 999, but when the four fire crews arrived minutes later there was nothing they could do to save the man and woman they had pulled from the burning building.

The two victims were yesterday named as Howard Blake, 51, and Sian Sanchez, 36, both of no fixed abode.

Police believe the house, which had been unoccupied for about a month, was being used by squatters and the pair had been staying there. Post mortems showed they died of smoke inhalation.

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Old Abingdon Road was closed yesterday between 9.30am and 4.30pm while officers continued to work at the scene.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated but fire officers have said it was not accidental.

Police say they have spoken to a number of witnesses and are also studying CCTV images from the nearby Go Outdoors shop.

Det Chief Insp Rob Mason said: "I am keen to hear from anyone who saw smoke coming from the house to help us narrow down when the fire started.

"The fire created a lot of smoke and could have been seen or smelt by passing motorists or people walking nearby. Any information members of the public have could help us to determine the exact timing of the fire and help to establish what happened."