A FIRE which broke out in a Derby flat and claimed the life of a 64-year-old man was started accidentally, according to firefighters.
The body of the man was discovered in his home in Edward Street at 11pm last night.
And Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service now say the cause of the blaze was a portable heater.
But Kam Basi, area manager for the service, said they were still investigating if the heater was knocked over or if clothes were too close to the device.
Meanwhile, a police spokeswoman said: "We haven't traced any of his next of kin so won't be releasing any more details until we have spoken to them."
Guthrie Whitby, 45, of North Parade, was at the scene.
He said: "I went round the corner to post a letter and saw two fire engines at the scene.
"The fire crews were rushing around and were trying to get into the flat.
"By the time I got there it looked as though the fire was under control. You could not see it."
He said he understood that a neighbour of the dead man had tried to rescue him from his flat.
Firefighters from Ascot Drive, Kingsway and Nottingham Road attended the scene.
Police say nobody else in the block of flats was injured.
