Discarded cigarette ‘most likely’ cause of fire which killed Derbyshire couple, inquest hears

Chesterfield Coroner’s Court was told 40-year-old Paul Derbyshire and 54-year-old Julie Ball lost their lives following the accidental blaze at their flat on Andrews Drive, Langley Mill.

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Emergency services were called to the tragedy on December 3 last year.

In a statement read out at the couple’s inquests on Friday, Nathan Stevens, a station manager with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS), said there was ‘extensive damage’ to the property.

He added that the ‘most likely’ cause of the fire was ‘as a result of a discarded cigarette coming into contact with a settee’.

Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Hart, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, which was reported to police at around 11.45am.

The inquest heard post-mortem results concluded both Mr Derbyshire and Ms Ball died from smoke inhalation.

Coroner Susan Evans said ‘we will never know exactly what happened’ after the cigarette was discarded.

She told the court: “Both Mr Derbyshire and Ms Ball were found in the bedroom of the property.

“A police hypothesis is that Mr Derbyshire awoke to fight the fire but collapsed back on to the bed – but that is just a hypothesis.

“According to the post-mortem results, both Mr Derbyshire and Ms Ball had drunk a large amount of alcohol.

“It seems no attempt was made to extinguish the fire.

“Eventually the fire ran out of oxygen and self-extinguished but unfortunately that was too late for Mr Derbyshire and Ms Ball – there was already too much smoke in the flat.”

Ms Evans said evidence showed that the flat’s smoke alarm was ‘working correctly’.

She concluded that both Mr Derbyshire and Ms Ball died as a result of an accident and offered her condolences to their loved ones.

Following the fire, Lee Smith, a group manager at DFRS, said: “This is a tragic accident that has sadly led to the death of two people and our thoughts and sympathy go to the family and friends of the deceased at this distressing time.”

For fire prevention advice, visit www.derbys-fire.gov.uk

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