Coroner sends out warning after man dies after using petrol on garden fire
A Coroner has issued a warning about the dangers of using petrol on bonfires and barbeques following an inquest into the death of a 52 year old man in Norfolk last year.
Mr Charles Denham was badly burnt after he used petrol to help ignite a garden bonfire in his back garden at Foundry Row near Holt on 9th March 2010.
Mr Denham managed to call his wife and ask her to call an ambulance and he was airlifted by The East of England Ambulance Service to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and later transferred to the special burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chemlsford. Sadly, Mr Denham died on 21st May after multi-organ failure after he developed an infection caused by burns.
Norfolk Coroner, William Armstrong said: “This tragedy serves as a warning that even the smallest fires can get out of control when fuel is applied. People who are starting fires in their gardens should see this as a reason not to use petrol.”
Man engulfed in flames at allotment
A man has been burnt whilst working on his allotment in Goms Mill, London.
The 44 year old had been burning rubbish at the allotment and had used petrol to ignite the fire. As the man added more rubbish, the flames leapt out of the container and set fire to his clothing which had become soaked with petrol fumes.
Luckily his friend ran to help him by putting water and soil on him and rolling him on the ground to try and extinguish the flames.
The man suffered burns to his right hand, arm and his face and was taken to University Hospital of North Staffordshire.
Mick Daniel of Longton Fire Station said: “The safety message here is not to use accelerants to get fires going, as the fumes are invisible but still flammable. The man has suffered from burns and is now in hospital so we would urge anyone who does intend to burn items to do so in a controlled manner. They should also make sure the fire is a safe distance away from any property, hedges or flammable materials.”
Arson suspected at Lothian bar
A fire which broke out at a bar and restaurant in Tranent destroying much of the building is now thought to have been started deliberately.
Arson dogs trained to sniff out accelerants such as petrol were used at the site and according to a spokesperson for Lothian and Borders fire service has yielded “positive results.”
The fire broke out on Tuesday at around 5am and it took over 30 firefighters many hours to control the fire.
Tranent watch manager, Joe Stockman said “There was an extremely intense heat within the building and it was very smoke logged when we arrived. We had to spend time checking for ‘hot spots’ within the building using breathing apparatus as we needed to be 100% sure that other fires hadn’t broken out in other parts of the property.”
Much of the damage was to the bar, restaurant and function rooms but luckily no one was in the property at the time of the fire and there were no casualties reported.
An investigation is being carried out by Lothian and Borders police. A police spokesperson said “Enquiries carried out by Lothian and Borders fire and rescue service indicate this fire had been started deliberately and we are now investigating to find those responsible.”