Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 18 March 1932
Drawing the Fire.
Dangerous Domestic Practice.
Denaby Child’s Death.
Mr. W. H. Carlile recorded a verdict of “Accidental death” at an inquest at Fullerton Hospital. Denaby on Monday on Connie Blakemore, daughter of Charles Alfred Blakemore, miner, 39, Blyth Street, Denaby, who died in the hospital on Saturday from burns.
Charles Alfred Blakemore said that about 9.15 a.m. on February 7th. a fire had just been lighted in the living room of his home and paper placed in front to draw it up. He left it for a minute to wash his hands. Connie and her brother were in the room.
The Coroner: Is it not dangerous to leave a paper in front of the fire?—Yes, but we have done it before.
Witness added that there was a large fireguard in the room. The children would have to stretch out to reach the fire. While he was in the kitchen he heard a scream and on rushing into the next room saw Connie running backwards and forwards with her nightdress on fire. He tried to put the flames out with his hand but could not and then wrapped her in the rug and took her to hospital. The girl’s nightdress was of flannelette.
Coroner: Was the paper in front of the fire alight?—No it was all right.
How do you think the child caught fire ? I think she might have been playing with the fire but she was not in the habit of doing so.
The girl’s brother, Alfred, aged 11, said he was reading when his sister’s clothing caught fire. He did not see her playing with the fire. He saw some sparks come out of the fire but not near Connie’s clothes. The first he saw was when Connie’s nightdress was on fire and she was standing near the door. He had never seen Connie playing with the fire.
Dr. T. Ford of Denaby, gave evidence that he attended the girl shortly after her admission to the Fullerton Hospital. She was suffering from severe and extensive burns on the chest, face and thighs. Death was due to toxemia following the burns.
“Apparently.” said the Coroner. “a precaution was taken by the parents by providing a fireguard but unfortunately the girl’s clothing, in my opinion , caught fire as a result of sparks flying out of the fire on to the flannelette nightdress. I think it would have been better if the paper had not been left in front of the fire because it made it burn fiercely. It is generally a flannelette nightdress which catches fire, but the only result of the statements I make on this subject is that manufacturers send letters to me denying that it is highly inflammable. It is my experience that flannelette is a material which easily burns and people lose their lives as consequence.”