Inquest Concludes After Mansfield Fatal Fire

An inquest took place yesterday (Tuesday 2 December) into the death of Mr James Stokes, aged 77, following a fire at his bungalow in August 2024.

Firefighters from Mansfield and Ashfield Fire Stations attended the fire at the property on Redland Road after a neighbour called at 11:19pm, reporting smoke and the sound of a smoke alarm coming from the property.

Sadly, Mr Stokes, who was known by family and friends as Jim, was pronounced dead at the scene after being found by firefighters.

Assistant Coroner Amanda Bewley ruled that Jim’s death was due to the effects of a house fire.

The investigation revealed Jim was a heavy smoker, and due to being bedbound, he unfortunately smoked in bed. The cause of the fire was deemed to be a naked flame from lighting a cigarette, which accidentally ignited his clothing or bedding.

Assistant Coroner Amanda Bewley said: “Jim was clearly loved by his niece Claire and her husband, who dedicated everything to him. This is a tragic way to lose your life, and I would like to send my sincere condolences to Jim’s family and friends.

“My thanks go to the fire service for their attendance and for their thorough investigation.”

Fire Investigator and Group Manager Richard Leighton said: “On behalf of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, I send my deepest condolences to all who knew Jim. 

"The fire service and our partner agencies, along with Jim’s niece Claire, encouraged him not to smoke in bed and explained the dangers of doing so. I want to use this extremely sad incident to reiterate the message and encourage the public to follow precautions to prevent this type of incident from happening again.

“If you smoke, please never smoke in bed or when tired, and always use a proper ashtray on a stable surface. Make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished before you leave the room or go to sleep and keep matches and lighters out of reach of children. These simple steps can save lives.”

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