‘Candle was most probable cause of fatal house blaze’
AFIRE that killed a mother-ofseven was likely to have been caused by a candle, an inquest has heard.
Marie Bellingham was found dead at her home at Siskin Close, Haverfordwest, on April 19, 2021.
An inquest into her death held in the Pembrokeshire town yesterday heard how the 46-year-old had been drinking vodka with a neighbour shortly before the fire started.
Reading evidence, PC James Lang told coroner Mark Layton how Ms Bellingham had previously made “several attempts to end her life” and took medication for her mental health.
He said following one suicide attempt, her neighbour Claire Bailey began looking after her medication and that Ms Bellingham would visit her home twice a day to take it.
On Monday, April 19, 2021, the inquest heard how Ms Bellingham had been into Ms Bailey’s house to take her medication.
Later that day Ms Bellingham went back to the house where they had some drinks before Ms Bellingham went home after 9pm.
Later that evening Ms Bailey heard Ms Bellingham’s smoke alarm going off before she went outside and saw the property on fire.
She called 999 at 10.40pm to alert the emergency services.
Ms Bellingham was found dead in her front bedroom on the first floor.
A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Petya Nedeva concluded Ms Bellingham’s medical cause of death as 1A: carbon monoxide poisoning and 1B: house fire.
Toxicology results showed Ms Bellingham’s blood alcohol level was 257mg – more than three times the legal drink-driving limit of 80mg. Sertraline was also found in her blood along with therapeutic levels of diazepam.
Dr Nedeva said: “This in combination will have likely increased the risk of the fire starting and reduced the chance of [Ms Bellingham] escaping... following the post-mortem investigation I can conclude she died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning due to toxic smoke gas inhalation in a house fire.”
The inquest heard how although Ms Bellingham had been smoking that evening, cigarettes are not believed to have caused the fire.
It was also heard how the doors to her property were locked. Evidence read out from reporting scientist Huw Turk who investigated the scene stated that the fire started in the downstairs lounge area near the sofa.
He said his investigation concluded that a “naked flame” was the most likely cause. This was backed up by evidence read out by fire safety manager Peter Jones Phillip who said there were candles including tea lights in the lounge. He said: “[The] most probable cause of the fire is a naked flame in the vicinity of the front of the house.”
Coroner Mr Layton said: “What that suggests to me is that there was no third-party involvement and noone else that would have been responsible for starting the fire. Whilst [Ms Bellingham] did have some mental health issues and in the past made attempts to self-harm I don’t think the evidence here suggests suicide. She was upstairs in the bedroom and the fire started downstairs near the sofa.” Mr Layton concluded Ms Bellingham’s cause of death as accidental and passed his condolences on to the family.