Street in shock when they wake up and discover that a “quiet” neighbor has died

Residents of a small boulevard in Bury woke up to emergency services outside their homes this morning (Tuesday, May 4) and the tragic news that one of their neighbors died in a house fire.

From the outside, the affected home didn’t look too bad with burn marks visible only through the living room window, but the smell of smoke filled Cherry Avenue all day as firefighters, police and crime scene investigators entered and left the two-story house.

Shocked neighbors watched from their windows and doorsteps as detectives collected numerous items from inside the property, and fire investigators assessed the scene. Police confirmed that the deceased was about 70 years old.

READ MORE : The wrecked cars after the rampage of a “stolen” tractor leave traces of destruction

A resident who lived a few doors down, told Manchester evening news : “They (the emergency services) are here all day. I didn’t hear anything, but it’s sad.

“Honestly, I don’t know him very well. He was alone the whole time.”

Damage from fire and smoke on the window on the lower floor of the house in Cherry Avenue, Bury (Image: Manchester Evening News)

A dog walker added: “He looked quite quiet. He kept to himself.”

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that three crews were present. A GMFRS spokesman said: “At approximately 8.15am on Wednesday, 4 May, three fire engines from the Bury, Whitefield and Haywood fire stations were called to report a fire on Cherry Avenue in Bury.

“The fire includes a two-story house. Firefighters carrying breathing apparatus used two spools of hoses and a positive pressure ventilation unit to control the fire. Fire crews remain on duty at the moment. “

Crime scene investigators collect items from inside the house (Image: Manchester Evening News)

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is now working with the GMFRS to determine the cause of the fire. A GMP spokesman added: “Officers were called around 8:20 a.m. this morning (May 4, 2022) to report a fire at Cherry Avenue, Bury. Emergency services arrived and despite all the efforts of medical staff, a 70-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.