A RELATIVE of a mother-of-five who was found dead after a fire in a house in Nelson has urged people to install smoke alarms.
Maureen Collier, 37, was discovered in the lounge of her sister's house in Claremont Terrace after what is believed to have been a chip pan fire.
Her brother-in-law Michael Fairless said Mrs Collier -- who had lived in both Colne and Nelson-- had a drink problem and he believed she must have fallen asleep after cutting the chips and switching on the oven.
The kitchen and its contents were destroyed by fire and the downstairs of the house was severely damaged by smoke.
Mr Fairless, of Lenches Road, Colne, said the family were extremely upset about her death.
He said: "We wanted to warn people that fitting a smoke alarm could save lives and that it shouldn't be something they put off.
"A smoke alarm might have saved Maureen's life, we just don't know. She was an alcoholic and might have had a couple of drinks but an alarm may have alerted her to it sooner. She was actually in the living room and the door to the kitchen was closed so the fire must have died out in the kitchen but the smoke had come through in to the living room.
"It's so important to get an alarm. It will only cost about £10 but it could save a life. I own a residential caravan site and I have been round to see everyone and warned them about the dangers of not having a smoke alarm. That is the main point we want to come across from this." Nelson station officer Nick Isherwood supported Mr Fairless' comments.
He said: "If a smoke detector had have been fitted the chance of her having survived the fire would have been greatly increased without a doubt.
"It would have given her an early warning.
Mrs Collier's body was found at around 9.30am on August 14 after the emergency services received a call from two joiners working in the area.
She leaves five children, aged between nine and 16, her mother and father, brother and sister, who all live in Nelson.
She had been staying at her sister Julie's house for a couple of days before her death.
Mr Fairless said: "Julie and I are separated but she had been staying with me and our children for a few days because it was the holidays, so Maureen had been staying in Julie's house.
"She was a bright, intelligent woman but her death came at a time in her life when she had many problems including recently being made homeless.
"Even though she was an alcoholic she was a very nice person and had lots of friends. Both her family and friends are greatly upset by her death.
"We would like to thank the police and fire service for the professional way they treated this accident."
The coroner has been informed and an inquest is expected to be held.
A service will be held for Mrs Collier at Holy Saviours Church, in Vulcan Street, Nelson, at 12.45pm, on Friday, followed by a funeral at Burnley Crematorium at 1.30pm.
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