Householders urged to check alarm batteries after man dies in blaze

Richard Ball, 53, died when fire, though to have been caused by a faulty fridge, tore through his detached bungalow on Treelands, in Gawber, Barnsley, in May last year.

An inquest into his death last week heard that fire service investigators also found a smoke 
alarm inside the property that 
it had not been fitted to the ceiling.

South Yorkshire Coroner Christopher Dorries, recording a narrative verdict, said: “Unfortunately, whilst there was a smoke 
alarm present within the property it was not appropriately 
fitted to a ceiling and would not have given Mr Ball early warning of the smoke and fire gasses.”

The coroner added: “It is 
likely that he would have had 
sufficient time to escape in the 
circumstances had the alarm been properly fitted and working.”

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s Mick Mason said: “This tragic incident is the clearest 
possible evidence as to why 
people should make sure their homes are fitted with working smoke alarms and test them regularly.”