Woman (58) dies in west Cork cottage fire

Gardaí investigating if cigarette caused blaze in wheelchair user’s home in Myross

File Image: A woman in her fifties has died in a house fire at Myross, Union Hall in west Cork. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times.

A woman in her fifties has died in a house fire in west Cork.

The blaze broke out in a cottage at Myross, Union Hall shortly after 8am on Tuesday.

Three units of the fire brigade fought the fire and members of the ambulance service and Garda were also present. Efforts to revive the woman were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is understood the 58-year-old wheelchair user lived alone. She was described by locals as a quiet lady who mainly kept to herself.

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The woman was a smoker and gardaí are investigating the possibility that a cigarette may have caused the fire. Gardaí do not suspect foul play was a factor in the incident.

The scene has been sealed off so a technical examination can be carried out.