POLICE are probing a kitchen blaze at sheltered accommodation in which a pensioner was killed.
Margaret Kenyon, 78, died at 9.50am yesterday as her terrace bungalow in Showley Residential Court, Knowsley Road, Clayton-le-Dale, filled with smoke after a saucepan fire. She was found by neighbours.
Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and were trying to contact relatives.
Fire service divisional officer, Mike Painter, said: "The cause of the fire is under investigation as it is unknown whether the woman died as a cause of the fire or afterwards."
Inspector Stuart Bruce said: "The post mortem examination seems to indicate the smoke has had a part in the death."
Police and firefighters were at the property today checking fire alarms.
A Blackburn family has cheated death after a blaze ripped through their home as they slept.
Fire crews today said a mother-of-three in Merchants Landing, Audley, was lucky to be alive.
It happened at 12.30am when the 23-year-old woman fell asleep in her three-bedroomed home while smoking.
Leading firefighter David Hilliard said: "We don't understand how they have managed to live through this, they really lucky. The woman must have been woken as flames actually touched her."
A bedroom was destroyed and the property was severely damaged.
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