Emma Waring · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 12th of March 2015 I commenced an investigation into the death of Emma Waring for whom the cause of death was given as being that of 1a inhalation of the products of combustion. At the inquest on 17 September 2015 the conclusion was one of an ‘accidental death’.

Emma Waring was 23 years old at the time of her death. She was working with a family support worker as a result of her 2-year-old son having been taken into care 8 months previously. She was known to be a heavy drinker and cigarette smoker and was by all accounts a vulnerable individual.. She moved into her rented accommodation in July 2014 and as with similar dwellings in the immediate vicinity it had been fitted with ‘hard wired’ smoke alarms by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. The evidence at inquest indicated that the fire had started at some time after 01:50 hours on 7 March 2015; the smoke alarm activated and would have been audible to neighbours. However the initial call to the emergency services was not made until 02.40 hours. It was more likely than not that a cigarette had come into contact with bedding materials and that whilst the deceased was asleep the fire had developed filling the bedroom with toxic smoke. At some point the deceased had became aware of the fire, possibly due to the smoke detectors operating, and had attempted to escape but had been quickly overcome by the toxic products of combustion

■Designated Community Safety Manager with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed in evidence that the Service ‘strongly advocated the installation of domestic automatic water suppression systems (sprinkler systems) and that had such a system been installed in the deceased’s home then the chances of her surviving this fire would have been significantly increased

Immediate and positive consideration of the compulsory inclusion in the design, planning and building phases for residential properties (especially for those properties housing vulnerable individuals) of Automatic Water Suppression Systems more commonly known as ‘domestic sprinklers’ so as to provide further safeguards in the event of accidental or indeed deliberate fires in such premises.