Woman dies after being pulled from house blaze

Brave neighbours managed to pull a 76-year-old woman from her burning home in Co Donegal, but she died at the scene just minutes later.

Josephine Higgs who was from Ballyboes, Creeslough, perished after fire swept through her bungalow in the early hours of yesterday.

The fire started at around 1am at the house two miles outside the village. Three fire tenders — two from Letterkenny and another from Falcarragh — along with gardaí, arrived at the scene at 1.30am.

Acting chief fire officer, Joe McTaggart, confirmed that the fire had already gutted the house and Mrs Higgs was outside the dwelling but had died.

Firemen stayed at the scene until 5am bringing the fire under control and securing the building.

The dead woman was well known in the area. Her husband David passed away last year and Mrs Higgs had two sons, Colin and Brian.

A neighbour said: “She was a lovely woman whose house was her palace and she loved to potter around the garden. It was a credit to her.

“Her husband Dave passed away in August last year and it was hard on her.

“But it’s awful that she passed away like this. It’s such a tragic end to the year. Our thoughts and prayers are with her two sons,” she said.

Mrs Higgs’ body was removed to Letterkenny General Hospital for an autopsy.

The area was preserved and forensic officers were due to start an investigation yesterday.

However, it is believed that the fire was a tragic accident.

Garda Superintendent Andy Archbold said the investigation is at an early stage.

“We would appeal for any witnesses who may have been in that area shortly before 1am to contact us,” he said.

The fatal fire comes just days after another fire in the village almost gutted the home of another family.