Safety advice issued after man dies in caravan fire

Senior fire officers are reminding people of the importance of disposing of their cigarettes correctly after a man sadly lost his life in a caravan fire.

The 67-year-old man died after the caravan on Boothstone Park Road, Stone caught alight shortly before 11am on Monday 28 December.

Crews from Stone, Eccleshall and Longton attended and used breathing apparatus, hose reel jets and a main jet to extinguish the blaze but unfortunately, nothing could be done to save the man who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A fire investigation took place and the cause was believed to have been accidental after a cigarette wasn’t disposed of correctly.

Director of Prevent and Protect at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, Howard Watts said: “This is a tragic incident which has seen a man lose his life.

“We see incidents like this all too often and we urge people to take the necessary care when smoking at home. Please follow the advice and stay safe.”

Please see below for advice on how to smoke safely:

• 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 when you’re tired, are taking any sort of drugs/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.