A blaze broke out at a terraced house in Walsall where an elderly man had been cooking on an open fire in his bedroom.

The fire happened at a mid-terraced home in Darlaston Road, Pleck, spreading through the roof to neighbouring homes. It is believed the flames took hold after an open fire was being used for cooking and was left unattended in an upstairs room while the tenant went out.

Firefighters who tackled the blaze at around 12.30pm yesterday found the property did not have any gas or electricity and the occupant had been using the old open fire at the Victorian property for heat and cooking, using wood to stoke the flames. Neighbours said the man, in his 60s, who lived at the house was a recluse who did not talk to anyone. He was not available to speak to today.

One man in the street, who did not want to be named, said: “It is known he was a bit of a recluse and I have never seen him talk to anyone around here.”

West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Mike Fox said: “It is quite unusual to find a property with no gas or electricity where someone is cooking on an open fire in a bedroom.  

“However, the message to take from this is quite universal.  Everyone should be careful wherever they are cooking in the house and it just shows how quickly a naked flame can get out of control if left unattended.”

Around four other adjoining homes were evacuated while firefighters from Walsall and Wednesbury battled to keep the blaze under control.  Minor damage was caused to the two neighbouring houses as the fire spread across the roof tops.  However, firefighters managed to stop it from getting out of control.

Mr Fox added: “The crews did extremely well to keep the fire from spreading too far as is always the risk with terraced housing.” 

The upper floor of the house was destroyed with smoke and water damage through the rest of the building.