Pensioner Is Killed By Cigarette Blaze, UK

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 20 Dec 2007 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

A pensioner from Stockwell, London, has died in a blaze thought to have been started by a cigarette.

Firefighters from Brixton and Clapham who went into the burning flat to tackle the flames discovered the pensioner's body. Paramedics declared the man dead at the scene and police have not officially confirmed his identity.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I would often see him around and about and he would say hello."

The victim was well known in the area and by Monday floral tributes had already been left on the landing.

Police confirmed they would not be investigating the incident and a spokesman said: "The incident is being treated as non-suspicious and was believed to have been started by a cigarette."

Fire investigators are examining the cause of the blaze but in the wake of the death have urged people to take extra care over Christmas.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "Around 40 per cent of all deaths in accidental house fires are caused by smoking material. Death from careless disposal of cigarettes is one of the main causes of fatalities in accident house fires."

http://www.ash.org.uk