One dead following barn blaze near Shrewsbury
Police have launched an investigation after a body was found in a barn fire.
Firefighters discovered the body while fighting the blaze in the barn at Baschurch north of Shrewsbury.
The two emergency services are now working together to establish the cause of the fire and the identity of the person who died.
The tragedy unfolded on Saturday lunchtime in Fenemere Lane in Baschurch. The person who died has not been named.
Around 20 firefighters including specialist teams went to the scene after reports of a serious barn fire were received in 999 calls shortly after 12.30pm.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said that despite the best efforts of emergency services a person was declared dead at the scene.
Firefighters alerted police officers to the fire at around 1.20pm after they recovered the body from inside the barn.
Detectives said that investigating officers were working closely with colleagues from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service in order to establish the cause of the fire and to positively identify the person found inside.
"We would like to reassure the local community that there will be both a police and a fire service presence at the scene while the fire is properly extinguished and an investigation completed," a police spokesman said.
"If anyone has any information that can help with our investigation please call 101 or visit our website quoting reference 351i of 28 August."
Group manager from Shropshire Fire and Rescue, Lee Baker said: “We are working closely with West Mercia Police to determine the circumstances of the fire and what led to the tragic event. Our gratitude goes out to those that supported the emergency services and thoughts are with those affected at this difficult time."
Fire crews including teams from Shrewsbury, Hodnet, Bridgnorth, Craven Arms and Newport, were at the scene with a light pumping unit, a water carrier and the welfare unit also mobilised.
Senior fire officers and investigators also attended the scene and the service said damping down continued at the premises into the late evening.
