Man dies in Cheddleton fire

The service was called to Folly Lane on 11 October after a 77-year-old was found deceased in his home along with his dog, a border collie, which also sadly died. 

A fire investigation was carried out and concluded the most likely cause of the blaze was an armchair positioned close to an open fire. A fire guard was placed on the other side of the room and, therefore, did not offer any protection.

This tragic incident has lead Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to make a number of pleas to the public to keep their homes safe in terms of open fires, smoke alarms and vulnerable people. 

Fire investigation officer Ian Read said, "This is an incredibly sad incident and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time. 

"We believe the fire started on Monday (October 7) and that the man attempted to tackle it himself before becoming overcome by the smoke. Unfortunately, there were no working smoke alarms in the house to alert anyone else to the blaze. 

"This tragedy is a stark reminder to have smoke alarms in your home and to always get out and stay out of you have any kind of fire in your home. This incident also highlights the need to take care with open fires, keep a fire guard in place, use appropriate fuel, make sure flammable items are away from the flames and keep a safe distance yourself. 

"It would appear this fire place was the man's main source of heat which is concerning to us. If you know anyone who may be vulnerable or does not appear to have adequate heating please call our Community Advice Team on 0800 0241 999 to discuss a Safe and Well visit. During these visits we do so much more than install smoke alarms and make sure you have no fire hazards. We check your health and wellbeing, that you are receiving the right benefits and identify if any referrals to other agencies need to be made. 

"The Safe and Well project is particularly important for people who fall into the factors of SAME campaign. They are smoking, alcohol, mobility issues and being elderly. We have also identified that those that live alone can also be vulnerable. Please if you know anyone that falls into any of those categories or if you are simply concerned for someone please give us a call."