https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/woman-who-died-crumlin-dublin-22528194Woman who died in Crumlin, Dublin house fire was seen screaming for help from upstairs windowOne local described the horror scenes as the woman appeared in the upstairs window sobbing and begging for help20:26, 15 AUG 2020 UPDATED20:31, 15 AUG 2020
A woman who died in a house fire was seen screaming for help from an upstairs window.
Shocked neighbours told today of their frantic attempts to rescue the victim, who perished in a blaze at her home on Stannaway Avenue in Crumlin, Dublin.
Alerted by the heavy smoke, several residents raced to rescue the woman from her home as the fire took hold at about 9pm on Friday.
As a crowd gathered outside, a number of locals got ladders and attempted to rescue the woman, aged in her 50s.
But the upstairs window would only open at the top and the woman was unable to escape, one local told the Irish Sunday Mirror.
One local described the horror scenes as the woman appeared in the upstairs window sobbing and begging for help.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Neighbours grabbed ladders, put them up against the wall and tried to go through the window.
“One fella tried to get access to the house to help after one of the kids in the area told him there was a fire, but he couldn’t get in.
“There was smoke everywhere. Then the guards arrived and started telling everyone to move back, move back.
“Then they said, it’s a crime scene, get back, and they put up the tape. It’s terrible, just awful.”
Seven units of Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene. Firefighters found the tragic victim’s body upstairs and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Today, the woman’s husband, who was out at the time of the fire, was left to mourn her tragic death.
Sinn Fein Councillor Daithí Doolan expressed sympathy for the woman’s family and praised the bravery of neighbours.
Mr Doolan, who lives in Drimnagh, told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “It’s an absolute shock.
“Fires are always tragic but we don’t expect them during the summer - it’s usually around Christmas time when we’re on the alert.
“So the neighbours are shocked that it happened on a Midsummer’s night.”
The scene remained preserved today as gardai worked to establish the cause of the fatal blaze.
A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out by the State Pathologist and the results will determine the course of the garda investigation.
Gardai are continuing to appeal for witnesses who were in the area at the time of the fire.
Anyone with information can contact Crumlin Garda Station on 01 666 6244, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
