A WOMAN who was killed in a fire has been named locally as Angela Wemyss.

Mrs Wemyss died last week when the converted garage she was in caught fire and was destroyed before she could be rescued.

Mrs Wemyss, who was in her late 50s, was the manager of the Wemyss Lodge Nursing and Care Home, in Stratton.

The fire was discovered just after midnight on Saturday at the garage adjacent the house where she lived with her family in Turnpike Road, Blunsdon.

No one else was injured in the incident, which is not being treated as suspicious by investigators.

It is believed the fire was caused when petrol was poured onto an outdoor woodburner.

The garage, which was totally destroyed by the fire, was converted into two parts. One was a habitable space lived in by a lodger, while the other half was a social space.

On Thursday evening Mrs Wemyss was with her family and the lodger watching the England football match.

Following the game, the lodger went out while the family, with the exception of Angela, returned to the house and went to bed.

When the lodger returned, he found the garage on fire and raised the alarm.

Because the garage was not attached to the house, the family was asleep, unaware of what was happening.

Crews from Drove Road and Stratton Fire Stations were called to the scene but the garage was engulfed in flames and starting to collapse when they arrived.

Although the family believed Mrs Wemyss was in the garage, that could not be confirmed, and because of the strength of the fire it was considered too dangerous to enter.

Group manager Alan Harper attended the incident and said the severity of the fire destroyed the garage.

“By the time we arrived the roof was collapsing and it was too dangerous to enter,” he said, speaking shortly after the incident.

“The severity of the fire meant that not only did the roof collapse but so did some of the internal and external walls.

“As a result it was therefore some time before we discovered the location of the body.”

Kathy Collis, the fire investigator for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The fire destroyed a converted garage, which was used as an entertainment room.

“The family had been using that space during the evening but most had gone to bed.

“We believe the victim decided to add fuel to the fire to make it burn out more quickly, but this led to a massive blaze which, tragically, led to her losing her life.”

Investigations are continuing into the events of that night and will be reported to the Wiltshire Coroner for consideration at the inquest.

Group manager Collis urged people to be cautious when dealing with any kind of open fire.

“With the winter fast approaching, and Bonfire Night just a few weeks away, it is vital that everyone takes extra care when dealing with fire,” she said.

“It only takes a tiny amount of petrol to cause a fireball, so please don’t use it as an accelerant.”

If anyone has information they can contact Wiltshire Police on 101.