A woman has died in a suburban house fire, the second fire death in the state in the past week

UPDATED: Fire investigators say a fire which killed a West Moonah resident – believed to be a 90-year-old woman – started when a wheat-filled microwaved heat pack overheated.

Emergency services at the scene of a fatal house fire in Springfield Avenue, Moonah. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

UPDATED: FIRE investigators say a fire which killed a West Moonah resident – believed to be a 90-year-old woman – started when a wheat-filled microwaved heat pack overheated.

The woman died on Wednesday afternoon when a fire engulfed her Springfield Ave home about 2.30pm.

Neighbours described the woman as a “lovely lady” who often dropped messages of well wishes in letterboxes of homes at her street.

Tasmania Fire Service on Thursday confirmed the cause of death was due to a heat pack which caught alight after being heated in a microwave.

“Investigations have concluded the fire accidentally started by a wheat-filled heat pack overheating in a microwave,” a TFS spokesman said.

It was the second property fire death in the state this week, and the fourth property destroyed by fire.

EXTENSIVE BURNS TO DELAY VICTIM IDENTIFICATION

Emergency services at the scene of a fatal house fire in Springfield Avenue, Moonah. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

EARLIER: A WOMAN has died in a fire that gutted a West Moonah home.

Police said a woman believed to be in her 80s died when a fire broke out a house on Springfield Ave about 2.30pm on Wednesday.

In a brief statement, police said a woman’s body was found inside the house which was fully engulfed by fire when emergency crews arrived.

The woman’s body has not yet been formally identified but it is believed to be an 90-year-old woman who lived at the house.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.

Irene Vurevics, who lives next door to the burnt house, said the home’s only resident was a “very lovely lady” who had lived in the house for up to 50 years.

“She has been a very big part of this street and has been someone my family and I have shared a friendship with for quite some time,” Mrs Vurevics said.

“She and my son got along particularly well. She would often offer him support and she used to write us all letters of well-wishes.”

Mrs Vurevics said she first phoned triple-0 when she heard a loud shattering noise from the property.

“I was cooking in the kitchen at the time and I heard the sound of glass shatter,” she said.

“When I looked outside I saw smoke and flames coming from the house next door,” she said.

“I imagine the blaze had been burning internally for quite some time because I then noticed all the house’s windows were quite blackened.”

Police said Tasmania Fire Service investigators will conduct an investigation to determine how the fire started.

Mrs Vurevics said paramedics attended the property the day before the fire broke out.

The woman is the second Tasmanian to have died in a property fire within a week after a man believed to be in his 60s died in a Swansea shed fire on Friday.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.