A MAN has been killed after a fire in Oxford last night.

Firefighters were called to a home in Marlborough Road in Grandpont at about 10pm and pulled a man out of the building.

South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman Catherine Morrow said the man, believed to be in his 70s, was in a life-threatening condition when he was transported to the John Radcliffe Hospital. 

He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after. 

A fire service spokesman said the fire was "well-developed" on the first floor and in the roof.

Rewley Road fire station manager Simon Belcher said the service had been alerted by a neighbour who saw smoke coming from the terraced home’s roof.

He said: “The fire started in one of the bedrooms, but although inside the home it was very well developed there were not many signs on the outside.

“We sent crews in with breathing apparatus and although it was very hot we got to the top of the stairs and got the fire out.

“Sections of the roof were also removed because lofts can be quite dangerous and it allows us to open up access to more of the hot-spots.

“We worked to save the man with ambulance crews for some time, but unfortunately he was pronounced dead in hospital.”

Six fire crews were called to the fire from Oxford, Abingdon, Kidlington and Eynsham. Firefighters on a hydraulic platform had to remove sections of the roof to tackle the blaze.

The fire was extinguished just before 1.30am.

An investigation into the cause has been completed but its findings have not been released.

Watch manager Sean Mienie, from Rewley Road fire station, said: "Crews attended the scene and entered the building quickly, tackling a well-developed fire so that they could rescue the person from the property.

"Our crews then worked with South Central Ambulance to give this person medical treatment before they were taken to the hospital."

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