Safety officers visit after fire claims a life

Gladys Barwood was killed by a blaze started by a candle, and her niece Shirley Cotton illustrated the point the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service will be making.

Shirley, who lives in Coventry, said: "In her younger days, Aunt Gladys was a supervisor for Marks and Spencer, but she was eccentric in the latter years of her life.

"It was aunt's habit apparently to light a candle each night and then get out of bed to turn out the light, and apparently this was the cause of the fire which sadly killed her.

"A simple bedside light would have been so easily obtainable."

Firefighters and the service's community information unit will be in the Hawthorn Road and Gravits Lane area between 10am and 1pm today to advise any neighbours of Mrs Barwood who are concerned about fire safety in the home.

Deputy District Commander Dave Benham said using candles increased the risk of fire at home.

He added: "It seems Mrs Barwood regularly lit a candle when she went to bed, and our initial investigation has concluded this to be the most likely cause of the fire last week.

"Her death in these circumstances is obviously very upsetting for family and friends, and we extend our sympathies to them.

"However, we do feel a moral duty to warn everybody else of the dangers from using candles in the hope this tragedy doesn't happen elsewhere."

The fire in a closed ground-floor room at the back of Mrs Barwood's semi-detached house is believed to have occurred on October 4 or 5 and burnt itself out. She was discovered at 7pm on October 5.

Shirley said: "After the post-mortem examination last week I was told by the coroner's office in Chichester that it appeared aunt had died just from smoke inhalation, but a blood test was to be carried out to determine the level of carbon monoxide. She did not suffer a heart attack as was first thought, and she was quite healthy for her advanced years."

To get advice or a free home fire safety visit call 0800 328 6487 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire

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