Devizes Police reviewing investigation into fatal flat blaze

It's believed the fire was started deliberately

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 2nd Jul 2025

Police in Devizes are reviewing their investigation into a fire in a block of flats, which happened nearly six years ago.

A 51-year-old woman died following the blaze in Waiblingen Way on the 17th of December 2019.

It's believed the fire was started deliberately.

At the time, a 20-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of murder and was released with no further action.

In a statement, police in Devizes said: "Police are reviewing their investigation into a fire in a block of flats in Devizes, which took the life of a 51-year-old woman.

"Around 1am on December 17, 2019, emergency services were called to a fire in Waiblingen Way. An investigation into the fire found that it had been started deliberately in a communal area.

"Ulla Derrick, who was living in the block of flats, was taken to hospital but died from her injuries. Eight other people, aged between 5 and 62 years old, were assessed at the scene by ambulance colleagues and did not require hospital treatment.

"At the time, a 20-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of murder and was released with no further action."

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