A HOUSE fire that killed a pensioner was started by an electrical fault in a microwave or toaster, an inquest heard.

Janet Brooks, 71, died when a fire started in her home in Rimington Avenue, Burnley, on Saturday March 3, 2018, after she had been out shopping and fell asleep in a chair in her living room.

An inquest in Burnley heard how Mrs Brooks daughter, Helen Brooks, had been trying to contact her mother as she was worried for her welfare due to the adverse weather conditions at the time caused by the so-called Beast From The East storm.

When she did not receive a response, she went round to her house and on arrival saw smoke billowing from the home.

Coroner Richard Taylor explained that Helen Brooks had tried to open one of the doors but was pushed back by thick black smoke and could not enter the property.

The fire service was called and Mrs Brooks was taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Fire investigator Craig Etherington said the fire had started in the kitchen, and while it was a localised, covering an area of around one metre, the smoke from the burning materials, which were mainly plastics, had spread throughout the whole house.

After ruling out all other possible sources of ignition, Mr Etherington concluded that an accidental electrical ignition was more than likely to have caused the fire.

He said: “The microwave and the toaster were so badly damaged that we can’t rule them out as the cause of fire.

“It’s my opinion that the fire started accidentally in the microwave or toaster, although the exact ignition point can’t be determined.

“The burning plastics, kitchen utensils, units and worktops all produced a high hydrocarbon smoke that spread and percolated throughout the house, and during this time I believe Mrs Brooks to have been asleep in her chair.

“This was a tragic accident caused by an unknown electrical defect.”

The court heard how the fire service had checked the smoke alarm in the upstairs of the property and found the wires to have been cut.

Helen Brooks asked: “Even if the one on the landing had been working, the chances are, by the time the smoke had affected it, it would have been too late anyway?”

Mr Etherington said that would have been the case.

Mr Taylor said: “This was no-one’s fault, it was an accident, and on balance I have to say that Janet came home from shopping, made herself something to eat and then fell asleep.

“An electrical fault caused a smouldering fire with a lot of toxic fumes.

“I conclude that this was an accidental death as a result of smoke inhalation, and she died of carbon monoxide poisoning by inhaling toxic fumes.”