An elderly woman died at her home after apparently succumbing to the deadly smoke from a fire caused by a covered heater.
Edna Hare, 89, of Westholme Gardens, Ruislip Manor, was found by firefighters from Ruislip and Harrow when they responded to a neighbour's 999 call at 9.40am on Saturday.
Smoke had been seen billowing from the property and the initial cause of the fire, which is still under investigation, appears to be clothes falling onto an electric heater.
Mrs Hare, who had been living in the two-bedroom bungalow alone after her husband, Ernest, died three years ago, is thought to have been overcome by the smoke before she could call for help.
One of her neighbours said: "Mrs Hare was a frail old lady and she passed away unfortunately in the house fire.
"I think she lived there for about 36 years. She had some family, but not locally."
A spokesman for the fire brigade said there was no smoke alarm at the property and urged people with elderly or disabled neighbours to encourage them to have one fitted.
Mrs Hare had also recently been referred to Hillingdon's Adult Social
Care team and discussions were taking place to assess the best services for her, including Meals on Wheels and a GP referral.
Jeff Maslen, director of adult social care, health and housing at Hillingdon Council, said: "As is the case follow
ing any death of an Adult Social Care client, we are already undertaking a full review of Mrs Hare's case to ensure that our service and our multi-agency support were not ineffective and that all was being done to help her."
The post mortem was due to take place at Uxbridge Coroner's Court, in Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, yesterday (Tuesday).
An inquest will be held once the body of Mrs Hare has been formally identified.
