Saima Usman · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 22nd March 2022, evidence was heard touching the death of Saima Usman. Ms Usman had been found deceased at her home following a fire. She was 44 years old at the time of her death.

Medical Cause of Death

1 (a) Mixed opioid toxicity

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How, when, where the deceased came by her death:

Ms Usman was found deceased and partially burned by the LFB at her home address at around 11pm on 8th July 2021. The fire did not contribute to her death. The source of the fire was likely to be from her burned clothing, either from a lighter or cooker, but her drug toxicity caused her collapse and prevented her from extinguishing the fire. There were no suspicious circumstances and no evidence of self harm.

Conclusion of the Coroner as to the death

accidental drug related death

Extensive evidence was taken and accepted by the court. In summary:

Ms Usman lived in flat belonging to a private landlord. There was no smoke detection system within the property.

Whilst in this case this would have been unlikely to have prevented the death, in other cases smoke alarms certainly allow earlier detection of fires and the prevention of deaths, and the limitation of spread of fire to adjacent properties as emergency services are called earlier.

Evidence from the Fire Brigade investigator was that Local Authorities currently have no legal powers to enforce smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to be installed in privately rented property. Had the property been rented from the LA, they could have ensured that such safety systems would have been in place.

Other LAs have registered landlord schemes that ensure that in order to be registered smoke and CO detectors must be installed.

That those living in privately rented accommodation within the London Borough of Wandsworth are at greater risk of death from exposure to fire or CO, as it does not currently have registered landlord scheme through which in order to be registered smoke and CO detectors would have to be installed.