A WORKINGTON pensioner who returned home to find a scene of absolute devastation following a fire in a neighbouring property has praised emergency services and neighbours. Police have arrested a 40-year-old on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following the fire in Harrington. Four fire engines were deployed to Church Road at around 4pm on Sunday. Crews extinguished a blaze involving the roof space and first floor of a property and one casualty was rescued. Bernadette Crellin, 80, was terrified to return to her home on Sunday afternoon and be confronted by emergency services and crowds of people surrounding the house adjoining the home of her disabled son.
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Coroner of Inquests Jayne Hughes has ruled a 91-year-old Peel woman’s death was as a result of an accident.
Gwendoline Crellin, a retired radiographer, of Battery Road, Peel, died of carbon monoxide poisoning following a fire in her home in February of this year.
On Friday Mrs Hughes ruled that the fire was likely caused as a result of a faulty electric blanket which was switched on in the main bedroom.
Witnesses told Mrs Hughes that residents in the other flats were awoken by the fire alarm shortly after midnight on February 6. Two of Mrs Crellin’s neighbours who gave evidence said they saw smoke when they exited their flats and one of them rang the fire service.