No specific cause of the fire that killed a Mansfield man could be identified, an inquest heard on Friday.
William Cartwright, 68, died of smoke inhalation at his home before the loft and first floor of his home on Austin Close collapsed.
It took the fire crews three days to recover Mr Cartwright’s body on Friday, April 15 after 25 firefighters searched through the rubble.
I commend the community on being supportive
Giving her narrative conclusion, Assistant Coroner Amanda Cranny said: “There was no evidence that the fire was started deliberately and the cause of the fire remains unknown.
“I note that meticulous care was taken by firefighters, Nottinghamshire Police and also the demolition team; I commend the fire service on carrying out such a protracted operation while still serving the rest of the county.
“I also note from evidence that the local community were very supportive over the three-day period until Mr Cartwright was discovered; there was a lot of disruption and I commend the community on being supportive and showing community spirit in this situation.”
Miss Cranny’s conclusion was made after hearing evidence that Mr Cartwright burnt coals and wood on an open fire and kept a range of electrical items and appliances in his home.
Crews from Mansfield, Ashfield and Warsop were called to the fire at 1:48am on Wednesday 13 April 2016.
They initially had to be led down the street by torchlight due to the large amounts of smoke.
We would like to express our condolences to the family
As a result of the inquest, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) is urging locals to take a few minutes to evaluate their fire safety methods.
Head of Prevention at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Bryn Coleman said: “This was a tragic incident and we would like to express our condolences to the family of Mr Cartwright.
“As the ruling of this inquest shows, sadly, fire can have fatal consequences and we would like to urge the public to do all they can to protect themselves by making themselves aware of fire safety measures.
“Taking the time to install and check your smoke alarms and those of your family members means you have a better chance of being aware of fire in the home allowing you more time to leave your property and alert the emergency services.”
