A fatal house fire which killed a man in his 40s in County Durham has been confirmed as accidental.
Fire, police, paramedics and the air ambulance were called to Park Road in Witton Park shortly after 8am on Friday, September 25.
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service have now said the blaze originated in the kitchen.
Police remain at the scene on Saturday (September 26) (Image: STUART BOULTON)
A spokesperson for the service said: "The cause of the fire was identified to be accidental and originated in the kitchen. An investigation into the full cause is still underway."
Durham Police said the fire was non-suspicious and a file would be prepared for the coroner.
Police remain at the scene on Saturday (September 26) (Image: STUART BOULTON)
The man, in his 40s, was brought from the property but was sadly pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of emergency crews.
An air ambulance also landed nearby as police, firefighters and paramedics responded.
Pictures taken on Saturday morning, September 26, showed a police van outside the property, with yellow barriers still in place.
Police at the scene of a fire on Park Road in Witton Park (Image: STUART BOULTON)
Smoke damage remained visible at the front of the home, while the property was scorched at both the front and back.
One 72-year-old woman, who lives on the street, said: “It was a bit of a shock.
"We saw the air ambulance after about 8.30am. We really only saw something when the ambulance dropped.
"It was a shock to see the ambulances and police down here, we don’t have them often. I don’t know whose house it is.”
Police remain at the scene on Saturday (September 26) (Image: STUART BOULTON)
Another woman who lives on the street said: “There were maybe three or four fire engines, maybe eight police cars and two ambulances and then the air ambulance landed about 9am.
"We couldn’t believe it but, to be truthful, I was inside all morning working so I didn’t see much more than that.
"You just don’t expect it, at 8am it was all quiet and then suddenly the street it so busy.”
Police at the scene of a fire on Park Road in Witton Park (Image: STUART BOULTON)
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A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a fire at a private address in the Woodside area of Bishop Auckland at 8.12am on Friday, September 25.
"We dispatched a clinical team leader to the scene."
A Great North Air Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Our critical care team was activated at 8.38am to an incident in the Witton Park area of Durham.
“We had two paramedics and a doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 8.48pm.”