Two dead as inferno engulfs Croydon house

An elderly couple died in a devastating house fire with their pet dog the only survivor.

The couple, believed to be in their late 70s, perished in the blaze at the detached property in Addiscombe, Croydon.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled the fire at the house just after 8pm on Wednesday night.

The blaze was brought under control by 9pm.

But firefighters were seen carrying out the bodies of the couple by shocked neighbours.

One lone police officer was stood outside the detached property today.

Neighbours declined to name the couple in the cul-de-sac nearby Addiscombe Railway Park.

One man who lives nearby, but asked not to be named, said: “They are a kind old couple - at least in their late 70s.

“The woman could barely walk. I know the son visits sometimes, but I don’t think he was in.

“I heard the fire engines, but I didn’t think anything like this could happen.

“It’s very sad. It’s tragic. I just don’t want to think about it.”

Another man said he had heard the couple’s dog barking this morning.

He said: “We definitely smelled something, almost like an electrical fire maybe.

“It’s that smell when you’ve got the plugs burning.

“I thought it was coming from our house so I checked all the plugs, but now that you say it yeah it makes sense that it was an electrical fire.”

A woman, who gave her name as Emma, said: “They were at least in their 70s. It’s very sad. They always had fairy lights on.

“I didn’t know them. They seemed like a sweet couple who always liked pottering around in their garden with their dogs. It looks like they lived there for a long time.”

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “Two people have sadly died in a house fire in Windermere Road in Addiscombe.

“Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to the fire at a detached house.

“The ground floor of the building was damaged by the fire.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus found one man and one woman inside the property.

“They were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

“The Brigade was called at 8.08pm and the fire was under control by 8.59pm.

“Fire crews from Woodside, Croydon and Beckenham fire stations attended.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.”