Toddler inquest told of fireguard
blunder

Twenty-three-month-old Hawwa Khan suffered 60 per cent burns in the tragedy at the family home in Bradford last December and died three weeks later.

Her mother, Bushra Kauser, told the inquest, which has been adjourned, that she was offered a home safety check by the Burnett Fields Children and Family Centre, which arranged for a man to come to the family home in Marsh Street, West Bowling, and fit cupboard locks, socket covers, gates and the fireguard.

But fire investigator Jonathan Needham told Coroner Peter Straker that the mesh-type fireguard was unsuitable for the modern fireplace.

Because the fire in the home of Mrs Kauser, and her husband, Saeed Khan, 25, was set into the wall above the ground, the standard box-style wire mesh guard, placed on the floor, did not actually reach high enough to cover the entire fire.

It meant that when Hawwa clambered up onto the fireguard from a pouffe she was directly facing the fire when she lost her balance.

Even though it was covered by another unsecured guard, the gas flames caught the Babygro she was wearing and engulfed her in flames.

The inquest in Bradford heard the toddler was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary but then transferred to the Royal Manchester Hospital’s intensive care unit for specialist treatment.

She deteriorated, however, and developed seizures. Eventually her organs failed and she became so ill she could not be given life support. She died on December 27.

Speaking from her home yesterday, Ms Kauser, who was three months’ pregnant at the time of the incident, said: “We miss 
Hawwa so much.

“There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t cry for Hawwa but I do stay strong for my family and for the other children, they keep me going.”

The inquest was adjourned to allow witnesses from the Burnett Fields Children and Family Centre to attend to answer questions.