Crews attend fatal house fire in Stoke-on-Trent

A man has sadly died following a house fire in Stoke-on-Trent.

We were alerted to smoke coming out the windows of a house on Weetman Close, Goldenhill, at around 1pm on Saturday (3 May).

Firefighters forced entry into the building and extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet. The gas and electric supply was isolated to make sure the area was safe.

A man in his 70s was found unresponsive inside. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the fire was later deemed to be accidental, caused by smoking materials.

Richard Williams said: “Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the man at this tragic and difficult time.

“Sadly, incidents like this show how easily accidental fires can happen. It’s absolutely crucial that people in Staffordshire understand the risks and speak to people they know, particularly those who live alone or are vulnerable, about how to minimise the risks and stop fires from happening.”

There are a number of ways you can limit the risks of accidental fires from happening due to smoking materials:

• Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished and carefully disposed of
• Never smoke in bed – you could easily doze off and set your bed on fire
• Always use a proper ashtray which is made of material which can’t burn or tip over.
• Take extra care if you’re tired, are taking any sort of medication or have been drinking alcohol. It’s very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children – consider buying child resistant lighters and match boxes to reduce the risk.