Couple die in Co Donegal house fire

Two people have been killed in a house fire in Co Donegal

Two people have been killed in a house fire in Co Donegal. The fire broke out at the property in Cavan Lower, Killygordon, shortly before 10pm last night.

Gardaí and fire crews were called to the blaze after a neighbour raised the alarm.

Two people, a man and woman in their late 50s, were found in the house. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Bob McMenamin, chief fire officer in Donegal, said when crews arrived at the scene the house was engulfe by flames and part of the roof had collapsed.

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“The firemen broke down the front door to gain entry and they found one male occupant of the house inside the door,” said Mr McMenamin. “That occupant was removed and they continued to deal with the fire. At a later time they found a female occupant in the kitchen area.”

Retained crews from Stranorlar, Letterkenny and members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service based in Strabane brought the fire under control.

Mr McMenamin said the fire was particularly hard for local firefighters who would have known the dead couple.

The bodies of the man and woman remain at the scene pending a full forensic examination. However, it is not believed at this stage that the fire was started maliciously.