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Mum killed in blaze caused by late night snack
A young mother died after falling asleep while cooking a snack after a night out.
Emma MacIntosh is believed to have nodded off after turning on a hob to cook sausages.
The 25-year-old died when a cloth caught fire in her kitchen, sending lethal fumes through the flat.
The accident in April orphaned her two-year-old son Tyler, who lost his father Mark in 2006.
Firefighters said her life would have been saved if her rented house had been fitted with a smoke alarm.
They are calling on private landlords and letting agents to fit working smoke alarms in all their properties.
Deputy West Sussex coroner Martin Milward recorded a verdict of accidental death at an inquest at Worthing yesterday.
The hearing was told Miss MacIntosh had drunk a bottle of white wine at the Ham Road home of Tyler's uncle, Adrian Stephenson, on Friday April 20.
She went home to her flat in Albion Street, Southwick, in the early hours of the morning.
Neighbour Duncan Jamieson said he heard her come in at about 5am, before he left for work.
Another neighbour, Peter Lynch, smelled smoke and called the fire brigade shortly after 6.30am.
Two fire engines from Shoreham and one from Hove arrived within minutes and firefighters kicked in the door of the flat to find the kitchen smouldering.
Plastic coverings on the toaster and microwave had melted away and Miss MacIntosh was curled up on the sofa.
They took her outside and tried to resuscitate her, but she had inhaled too much poisonous carbon monoxide to be revived.
Her mother, Jackie, had been babysitting for Tyler when the accident happened.
She told the inquest her daughter called to check on him the previous night.
She said: "The last thing she said was: 'How's Tyler?' "I said: 'He's asleep'.
"She said: 'I won't speak to him because it'll wake him up.'"
When Mrs MacIntosh took Tyler back to Albion Street the following morning, his mother was already dead.
Mrs MacIntosh now looks after Tyler at her home in Lucerne Street, Portslade.
Speaking outside the hearing Mr Stephenson paid tribute to Miss MacIntosh, saying: "It's a sad loss."
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Gary Towson said the tragedy highlighted the need for working smoke alarms to be fitted in all homes.
The service is calling on private landlords and letting agents to make sure their properties are properly equipped.
He said: "The flat wasn't fitted with a smoke alarm.
"Consequently when the fire broke out she wasn't aware of the danger she was in.
"Obviously it's a very harsh lesson for people to learn.
"A £5 smoke alarm might have made a difference.
"The fire service will be working closely with landlords, letting agents and estate agents.
"They might not legally be required to do it, but we would like to see them install smoke alarms as a duty of care.
Sent: 20/06/2007
Email us direct at: repairs@londonheatingservices.co.uk
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