Death in Market Drayton blaze prompts checks on 400 homes

Fire safety advice has been given to people in more than 400 homes in Market Drayton after a 61-year-old woman died in a house blaze, firefighters said today.

Jennifer Jones died after a fire tore through her home in Maer Lane on Monday morning.

Now firefighters have visited 400 homes nearby to issue safety advice and check people's smoke alarms after it emerged there were no batteries in two alarms at her home.

Roger Smith, watch manager at Market Drayton fire station, said: "Following a fatal fire we follow it up with home safety visits to houses in the immediate area of the incident."

He said addresses in places like Campbell Road and the Fairfields Estate had been the focus of the safety campaign.

Mr Smith said: "On the visits we are making people aware of the incident that happened this week and we are checking people's smoke alarms. It's about giving advice to make sure people check their alarms on a regular basis.

"We also leave a leaflet reminding people about the need to check their alarms regularly. The main message is for people to make sure everything is as it should be with their preparations to deal with fire.

"Sadly there were no batteries in two smoke alarms at the fatal fire this week."

In Monday's incident the alarm was raised by passing binmen who spotted smoke coming from the house during their early morning round.

Firefighters smashed into the smoke-filled house at about 7.45am.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene despite paramedics' efforts to save her.

Police said initial investigations suggested there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.

Fire investigators are also probing the incident.

John Ellery, coroner for mid and north Shropshire, opened and adjourned an inquest on Jennifer Jones yesterday.

The full inquest will be heard on a date to be fixed.