A 58-year-old man rescued from a flat fire on Teal Grove, Birchwood, on Tuesday has died, Cheshire Police said. No third party is believed to be involved.

A 58-year-old man has died after being rescued from a fire at a flat on Teal Grove in Birchwood on Tuesday morning.

Cheshire Constabulary said emergency services were called to the flat at around 10.10am on Tuesday 22 September. Firefighters found the man inside and rescued him. He was taken to Whiston Hospital with injuries the force described at the time as critical.

On Friday Cheshire Police confirmed that he had since died, despite the efforts of emergency services and medical staff. The force’s update was carried by the BBC and the Chester Standard.

What the police have said

  • An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
  • The force said “at this time there is not believed to be any third party involvement”.
  • The man has not been named. We will not name him unless the police or his family do.

The force’s own statement on its website still carries Tuesday’s wording and has not yet been updated to record the death.

What it means for you

If you live in or near Teal Grove and saw anything on Tuesday morning, the police enquiry into the cause is still open. You can contact Cheshire Police on 101 or through the force’s online reporting page.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s own advice is that you are around ten times more likely to die in a fire if you do not have a working smoke alarm. It recommends:

  • at least one working smoke alarm on every floor
  • testing each alarm once a week by holding the button for three seconds
  • a heat alarm, not a smoke alarm, in the kitchen
  • if an alarm sounds and you do not know why: get out, stay out and call 999

If a neighbour’s alarm keeps sounding and you cannot reach them, the service says to call 999 and not to go into the property yourself.

The service also runs free home fire safety checks for people who want a visit after reading its Safe and Well booklet, and a separate page of advice for people living in flats.

Landlords in Warrington have had to fit a smoke alarm on every floor of a rented home since 2015, and a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with a fixed combustion appliance since October 2022. The council enforces those rules and can fine a landlord up to £5,000. Our story on the council’s new landlord penalties explains its wider enforcement powers.