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Pet dog probably started fatal fire
AN INQUEST has today been told that a house fire which claimed the life of a Chesterfield woman was probably started by a pet dog knocking over a cande.
Stephanie Kimberley, aged 31, died after being overcome by fumes from the blaze at her home in New Hall Road, Brampton, on February 24.
The Chesterfield inquest heard how neighbours saw Miss Kimberley waving and shouting for help from her bedroom window.
They opened the front door to the mid-terraced property but were forced back by thick smoke and intense heat, and they hurled bricks in a desperate bid to put through the bedroom window.
Fire-fighters arrived and found her badly-burned body in the bedroom together with the bodies of her two pet dogs. She was taken to hospital and declared dead.
An investigation by fire officers concluded the most likely cause of the blaze was a candle in the front living room being knocked over by a dog.
The candle ignited papers and a sofa and flames spread upstairs, leaving Miss Kimberley trapped in the bedroom, where the window opening was not large enough for her to escape.
Deputy North Derbyshire Coroner Nigel Anderson recorded a verdict of accidental death.
After the inquest fire officers urged residents not to leave burning candles unattended and to have smoke alarm fitted inside their homes.
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Weather for Chesterfield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
