GRAVESEND: Fire which killed elderly woman started by oven being left on
A FIRE which killed an 88-year-old woman was caused by her oven being left on, an inquest has heard.
Lily Sutherland died from smoke inhalation at her bungalow in St James Avenue, Gravesend, on January 20 after clothes left on top of an oven hob in the kitchen caught fire.
An inquest at Gravesend Coroner’s Court yesterday (September 3) heard Mrs Sutherland often used the hob to light cigarettes, and that it was likely she had left it on before going to bed.
Helen Rosser, a forensic scientist who investigated the fire, told the court: “The fire was caused by the heat from an electric cooking ring which ignited fabrics on top of the hob.”
Coroner Roger Hatch recorded a verdict of accidental death.
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