Woman, 72, dies in house fire near Skipton

The emergency services were alerted on Saturday night to reports of a fire at Sutton-in-Craven, between Keighley and Skipton, where they found a 72-year-old woman. Despite efforts to revive the woman, who lived alone at the property, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Last night detectives said the cause of the fire was not yet know and a full investigation is being carried out at the scene to try to establish a cause of the blaze.

The emergency services were called at 9.55pm on Saturday to a property in Wright Street.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said yesterday: “North Yorkshire Police were called by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at around 9.55pm on the night of Saturday 13 December 2014, to reports of a house fire in Wright Street.

“All three emergency services attended the incident where the 72-year-old woman, who was the only occupant of the house, was found in a bedroom at the property.

“Despite the efforts of ambulance staff at the scene, the woman was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later,” the spokesman for North Yorkshire Police added.

Detective Chief Inspector Allan Harder, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The cause of the fire remains unexplained at this time and police and fire investigators are carrying out a full examination of the property to determine how it started.”

Police have not yet released the identity of the woman.