Neighbours speak of shock and sadness as woman who died in Sheffield house fire is named locally

Three fire engines were deployed to Grindlow Close, Heeley, after the blaze was reported at 8.10am on Tuesday (March 3).

Crews from Central, Rivelin and Lowedges all tackled the fire, but the woman could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim has been named locally as Kathleen Khan in her 70s.

Neighbours said she lived with her son, Stephen, who is in 40s, and had another son, Michael, 31.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue confirmed only one person was in the house during the blaze.

One neighbour, Charlotte McFall, said: “It was a shock. I was just sorting stuff in the house and I saw it and said ‘that’s Stephen’s house’.”

“I have lived here for 16 years and she was here before I moved here.”

She added: “They are mostly old people (who live in the row of houses where the fire took place).

“Stephen is always checking on his neighbours and how they are. He’s the neighbourhood handy man. We didn’t see her (Kathleen) very often.”

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s really upsetting and tragic.”

Police officers wearing hazmat suits were at the scene this morning. The upstairs of the house had been ruined by the blaze, with the windows smashed.

Another neighbour said Kathleen ‘couldn’t get out of the house’ due to mobility issues.

“She used to have carers two or three times a day,” they said.