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News Release

Issued: 07.07.10

At: 16:00

For immediate release

Fire Death Could Have Been Avoided

An inquest has taken place today (7 July 2010) into the death of Marina Smith, 75, of Kashmir Road, Leicester in a house fire on 11 July 2009.

At around 9:55pm on Saturday 11 July 2009, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service received calls to reports of a house fire on Kashmir Road in the St Matthews area of the city with reports of people or a person trapped inside.

Crews from Central and Eastern Fire and Rescue Stations attended and one crew wearing breathing apparatus entered the property to extinguish the fire. Mrs Smith had managed to escape the property and was at a neighbouring property. Firefighters administered first aid to Mrs Smith at the scene and she was then taken by ambulance to the Leicester Royal Infirmary. She sadly died three days later on the 14 July.

Steve Smith, Fire Investigation Officer, who attended the inquest said: -

‘This fire started after an elderly woman went to bed and lit a cigarette. The lit match then accidentally dropped onto her night clothes setting them alight.

Smoking in bed is extremely dangerous as people can easily fall asleep and accidental fires can too easily occur and, as in this case, can lead to devastating consequences.

I would like to encourage anyone with elderly relatives or neighbours to regularly check on them and ensure they have working smoke alarms fitted on all floors of their property and, crucially, encourage them not to smoke in bed. In such cases, people can ring Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service on 0116 287 2241 for a free home fire safety check.’

- ENDS -

Notes to News Desk

Contact Information

For more information please contact:

Amanda Pike
Corporate Communications
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Tel: 0116 287 2241