Prisoner screamed 'I'm on fire' for 33 mins

Clare Dupree, 48, died in December 2022, two days after a fire ignited by a vape in her cell at HMP Eastwood Park. Inmates reported hearing Dupree scream "I'm on fire" for 33 minutes before her removal from the cell, a delay exceeding the 20-minute regulatory guideline. Her cell was not equipped with an automatic fire detection device, and the door handle was too hot to touch upon staff arrival.

Dupree later succumbed to a brain injury and respiratory infection. She had been imprisoned a month prior for threatening a security guard. Her family described her as delightful and sensitive, though she battled significant mental health problems, including paranoia and hallucinations, which improved with medication. She missed one dose of antipsychotic medication before the fire, but this was deemed unlikely to be a significant factor.

The inquest into her death at Avon Coroner's Court highlighted the prolonged period it took for staff to intervene. Despite the delay, it remains unclear if earlier removal would have improved her chances of survival. The jury heard about Dupree's mental state, which had improved but still included some paranoid and delusional ideas shortly before the incident.