A fire chief has warned of the dangers of smoking in bed after an inquest heard a tragic Poole pensioner had accidentally sparked a fatal house blaze.
Doris Dunn, 75, died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in her bedroom shortly before midnight on June 22 this year.
Firefighters were on the scene in seven minutes but, by the time crews had broken into the property in King John Avenue, Bearwood, Mrs Dunn had been overcome by toxic fumes.
Mrs Dunn's son Bryan told the Bournemouth hearing she had been unable to cope with everyday life and taken to her bed.
Despite warnings about the dangers of smoking in bed, Mrs Dunn persisted.
Mr Dunn said: "She was in bed watching TV and chain smoking, probably between 40 and 60 cigarettes a day.
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"She put the stubs in a plastic carrier bag and one day I found it smouldering.
"I give her a severe talking to but, as usual, she brushed it aside.
"She was a strong-willed lady and said it was her life.
"Several times we voiced our concern. She used to drink brandy in bed and also smoke there."
DC Vicky Worsdale said the fire had initially been treated as suspicious but there had been no signs of forced entry and nothing had been stolen.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service group manager Craig Baker said crews had tried, in vain, to rescue Mrs Dunn whose body was found on an upstairs landing.
Investigations showed that the fire had probably started on a bedside cabinet beside her bed.
The battery had been removed from a downstairs smoke detector and there was no detector fitted upstairs.
Deputy Coroner Jonathon Morrissey concluded that Mrs Dunn's death had been caused by an accident.
After the hearing Mr Baker said: "We would warn people not to smoke in bed. It is very dangerous.
"A smoke detector upstairs might have saved Mrs Dunn's life."
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