One person remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition after a fire at a Stevenage care home which led to a man’s death.

Herts Fire & Rescue service confirmed this afternoon that five people have also now been discharged from the town’s Lister Hospital following the fire, which broke out around 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon at Woodlands View Care Home.

The blaze was quickly brought under control by firefighters, but one area of the care complex in Magpie Crescent was badly affected and five people had to be rescued.

A man in his 80s was pronounced dead after the incident.

A statement this afternoon from HC-One, which runs the home, reads: “We regret to confirm a fire broke out at a unit of Woodlands View Care Home in Stevenage at 4:30pm on Saturday.

“Sadly, one resident has since passed away. Our deepest sympathies are with their family and we are doing everything we can to support them.

“At the time of the incident, staff at the home took immediate action to notify the emergency services and evacuate residents, staff and visitors to safety in other parts of the home.

“A number of residents and colleagues were taken to hospital to receive further medical attention, and we are continuing to do everything we can to support their families.

“Additional staff from across the organisation arrived quickly at the home to support all other residents and staff.

“The safety and wellbeing of residents is our number one priority. We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved, including the emergency services and Hertfordshire County Council, as well as our own colleagues, for their very swift and professional response which enabled residents from the unit to be relocated quickly and safely to other units at the home, and to our nearby sister homes.

“We have also been keeping the families of all residents up to date with the latest developments.

“At this stage we do not know why Saturday afternoon’s incident took place and in due course, there will be a full and proper investigation. Our immediate priority remains providing all support possible to everybody connected to the home and affected by Saturday’s events.”

A spokeswoman for the fire service said yesterday the fire may have been caused by an exploding oxygen canister, but a full investigation will be carried out in due course.