Fire death flat not fitted with smoke alarm
 | | Rosie Vincent outside court |
A SERIOUSLY ill man who collapsed and died in a fire in his home lived in a council flat that was not fitted with a smoke alarm.
Wheelchair-user Joseph McPadden, a retired self-employed carpenter, died six days after his 60th birthday when a dropped cigarette set an armchair alight at his home in Arran Walk, on the Marquess Estate, Canonbury.
 | | Joseph McPadden |
Irish-born Mr McPadden, who suffered from chronic lung disease, tried to flee the blaze just after mid-night on June 11 but was overcome by fumes, an inquest heard.
Although the fire eventually extinguished itself, his body was found by firefighters at around 8am later that morning after neighbours raised the alarm.
Watch manager Neil Morling, a London Fire Brigade investigator, told St Pancras Coroner's Court: "He was between the bathroom and the bedroom in the hallway. The smoke and soot had left a silhouette where he was lying. I believe he made an attempt to reach the front door but was overcome before he made it.
"There was fire damage to the right side of Mr McPadden's trouser leg. It suggests he was sitting or sleeping in the armchair at the early stages of the fire and it burned his leg."
The Islington Council-owned flat had been adapted for Mr McPadden's wheelchair with low light fittings, hand rails and electric hoists.
But it had not been fitted with a smoke alarm - despite an earlier fire at the property in March.
Mr Morling said: "The property was managed by Homes for Islington and had been converted with mobility in mind. But it didn't have fire alarms. The risk was identified but the fire safety visit couldn't be made before the [second] fire occurred. Because it was a slow burning fire, you couldn't detect it from outside.
"Had there been a smoke alarm maybe the alarm would have been raised earlier."
Speaking outside the court, Mr McPadden's older brother Tom, 66, said: "I find it hard to believe you get a converted flat and don't fit smoke alarms."
Rosie Vincent, 61, Mr McPadden's partner of 12 years, said: "There should have been a fire alarm. The flat was a time bomb. He used a cup of tea and orange juice to put out the first fire in March."
She added: "He was kind and always laughing. He loved a tipple of whisky and was very sociable."
A spokesman for HfI said: "In light of this tragic accident, we're reviewing our procedures so instead of providing new tenants with smoke alarms, we're looking to fit them before tenants move in."
He added: "All tenants are provided with alarms when they sign their tenancy agreement and we also encourage tenants to undergo a fire safety check. We offer help fitting alarms if needed.
"We also hard wire smoke detectors into properties when we do rewiring as part of the Decent Homes programme.
Verdict: Accidental death.
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