House fire kills OAP, 88
A PENSIONER has died from severe burns and smoke inhalation after a fire tore through her home.
Ellen Baker, 88, died in hospital from her injuries after a blaze at the house in Cherry Tree Road, Stapenhill (pictured).
A family friend described her as having a ‘heart of gold’.
The fire service believes the blaze started accidentally and police are not treating the death as suspicious.
News of the tragedy came on the same day a mother spoke for the first time about her narrow escape from a potentially deadly kitchen fire in Shobnall Road.
Pensioner suffered major burns in blaze tragedy
AN 88-year-old woman has died after suffering severe burns and smoke inhalation in a house fire.
Ellen Baker died in hospital following a blaze which swept through her home in Cherry Tree Road, Stapenhill, at 8.50pm on Sunday.
Firefighters had to smash down the front door in a dramatic rescue bid before they discovered Mrs Baker semi-conscious inside.
She was taken to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital but the Mail understands she died from her injuries at around midnight.
Family friend Susan Lorrimer, 61, said: “The fire brigade had to break down the door and when they brought her out she was still awake.
“She had a heart of gold. I know that everyone has to die but to go that way and to be in so much pain is terribly sad.
“She passed away at about midnight and she had suffered 85 per cent burns.
“I think they were thinking about transferring her to the burns unit in Birmingham but her injuries were so severe.
“She had lived in that house for years and I have known her since I was 16.”
Pensioner suffered major burns in blaze tragedy A joint investigation into the tragedy by Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service ruled the fire started accidentally and the death was not being treated as suspicious.
The alarm was raised by a mobile monitoring agency which told the fire service Mrs Baker was still inside the house at the time.
The blaze started in the kitchen before spreading to the living room, and the house was severely smoke-logged.
Burton Fire Station manager Paul Richins said: “Crews had been informed that the occupant was still inside the property and so on arrival immediately forced entry and carried out the rescue of an 88-year-old woman.
“She was transported to hospital, however she sadly passed away some time later.
“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the woman’s family.” The police are now preparing a file for Her Majesty’s Coroner.
