A man has died in a fire at a flat in Paulton.
Firefighters were called to the flat at 7.20am on Saturday after reports of burning smells, and entered the building to find the body of a man in his mid-60s.
An ambulance was called and attempts made to resuscitate the man but he was declared dead at the scene.
The fire at the property in Victoria Place, Farrington Road, is now the subject of both police and fire service investigations but initial indications are that the cause may have been an electrical fault.
Mark Anderson, area manager for Avon Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Crews arrived at the scene having been called to a smell of smoke by a neighbour. Crews made access to the property to find one male casualty who was unfortunately deceased due to the effects of fire and smoke."
Retained fire fighters arrived at the site, which is 200m from the local fire station, within two minutes of the emergency call. They were let in to the communal area of the building by a neighbour and gained access to the flat, which was heavily smoke-logged.
Crews from Paulton and Radstock used using breathing apparatus and a high pressure hose reel to put out the fire. The man was a sole occupant of the flat, which was a private property.
"Our thoughts are with the family at this particular time," said Mr Anderson.
Fire crews were out on the streets of Paulton later that day to reassure neighbours and chiefs will meet with community police officers, Bath and North East Somerset Council and local housing associations this week to discuss fire safety.
Mr Anderson said there was no indication that the flat had been at particular risk but added: "At this time of year there are issues around candles, fairy lights and so on, we want to be sure that people have a safe Christmas."
