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Inquest: Dryer Likely Ignited Fatal Blaze
24 Jul
Summary
- Father and daughter died in a house fire last year.
- The fire most likely started in a tumble dryer.
- The older sister survived after extensive hospital treatment.
A devastating house fire on Russell Close in Heckmondwike last year resulted in the tragic deaths of 38-year-old Sohaib Ahmed and his nine-year-old daughter, Manahal Nazir Ahmed. The fire broke out on 8 June, claiming the lives of both father and daughter.
Manahal's older sister also suffered severe injuries and survived only after receiving comprehensive hospital treatment. An inquest into their deaths, held at Bradford Coroner's Court, heard evidence regarding the incident.
Coroner Martin Fleming stated that he was satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the fire's origin was a tumble dryer in the kitchen. However, the specific cause of ignition remains undetermined.
Fleming recorded a narrative verdict for both fatalities, citing smoke inhalation as the cause of death. He expressed concerns about an unidentified potential failing mechanism that could lead to future tragedies, and is considering issuing a prevention of future deaths report.
Evidence presented at the inquest indicated it was unclear whether the Hoover dryer was in operation at the time of the fire. An independent expert, Michael Jones, testifying for Hoover's parent company, Haier Smart Home Ltd, noted that alternative ignition sources could not be entirely ruled out.
