A GRIEVING mother has joined a coroner to call for smoke alarms to be made compulsory in homes after her son died in a house fire.

At an inquest Jackson Chard’s family heard he lost his life to smoke inhalation as a fire raged at a friend’s flat in Glanton Wynd, Gosforth, Newcastle.

As rescuers fought their way towards the 600C heat, they saw the 26-year-old already dead. He was in a chair. There had been no working smoke alarm to alert the sleeping dad-of-one.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Newcastle coroner David Mitford said the law did not yet make smoke alarms compulsory in all homes. He said there were lessons to learn from the tragedy.

Today Jackson’s mum Maureen, 56, spoke of the pain of her loss and revealed why she wants the law changed to make alarms compulsory in all homes.

The grandmother-of-two, of Coxlodge, Newcastle, said: “If there had been a smoke alarm in the house when Jackson died things might be different. My instinct tells me if there had been a smoke alarm he very probably would still be alive today.

“I’d advocate any change in the law which meant there had to be alarms. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through the pain of losing someone this way. You can’t describe the grief. All you’re left with are happy memories.

“The first 12 months are supposed to be the worst because you have to go through all the anniversaries, his birthday. It’s the same for anyone who loses somebody.

“You miss the company. It feels like a life wasted. Jackson’s advice was great and he was very fair. He had a very generous manner. He had so much time for people. He was nice, he was responsible. He was just a great all-rounder.

“If he was in a room and he saw someone sitting on their own he would always bring them in to what was going on. He didn’t like inequalities in life.

“If he saw an old man struggling with his shopping he would be the first to go and help.

“He was lovely. He was so caring. And he was a good father.

“He’s going to miss his daughter growing up and she’s going to miss having a daddy. All he wanted was for her to be happy.

“I can see Jackson in my granddaughter, she has the same goodness about her, the same mannerisms. I find it comforting to spend time with her.

“For people who knew my son, his death has brought the importance of alarms home to them.

“There is no-one who was at his funeral who won’t understand how important the alarms are.

“But there are still too many who just don’t take notice of what’s been said before. The sad thing is it will happen again. That’s why I want every home to have a working smoke alarm.

“I don’t know how it would work, perhaps people would have to get a licence which could last for as long as the alarm. Perhaps reminders could be sent out. But if people learn about the importance it will stop Jackson’s death being a complete waste. It’s worth it, even if it only saves one life.”

At the inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre, pal Kerry Irwin – rescued from the balcony of her flat where the fire had taken hold as the pair drank – said there had been no working smoke alarm in the property.

She said: “There was one, but it didn’t work. I know it didn’t work.”

The inquest heard Mr Chard had been drinking with Miss Irwin after he returned from a night out. Both had been smoking and matches and a lighter had been in the room.

The blaze was so ferocious it created a flashover which ignited all the combustible material in the first floor flat living room. Temperatures meant investigators from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service had been unable to decide an exact cause of the blaze.

Watch manager Paul Anderson said the most likely cause was a dropped cigarette.

Mr Mitford said: “There’s no doubt a smoke alarm may potentially have given an early warning to make a difference to Mr Chard.

“The law hasn’t yet got to the point where it insists there should be a smoke alarm. But over my years of experience as a coroner, in most fires that lead to death it is quite common for a smoke alarm not to be present or functioning.

“There’s a lesson here to be learnt by all of us.”

It can be a question of life or death

CALLS for working smoke alarms to be made compulsory in all homes has already gathered significant backing.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Newcastle City Council, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) have all thrown their weight behind the demands.

Current legislation requires working smoke alarms are fitted to all new- build properties, but older homes can be left without. Campaigners want all homes included.

So far this year there have been four accidental fire deaths in Tyne and Wear. In two cases there was no alarm fitted and in one the alarm failed to activate.

Those determined to eradicate deaths from house fires believe improvements need to continue.

Neil Scott, director of tenancy services for Your Homes Newcastle, said: "Jackson’s death was a tragedy and we’d like to pass on our condolences to his family and friends at what must be a very difficult time.

"YHN has fitted smoke alarms in the majority of the houses we manage. We have a deadline to extend this to all our 31,000 properties by the end of our Modern Homes programme in 2010/11.

"However, fitting these alarms is only the first step and we’d urge all our tenants to make sure they avoid fire risks in their homes. For example putting matches out of the reach of children and never leaving chip pans unattended on a stove.

"We would support any efforts to widen the use of smoke alarms as we recognise and value their potential to save lives."

Figures released this year showed Tyne and Wear has one of the highest number of accidental house fires in the country – 23 accidental house fires for every 10,000 homes. It is a problem the fire service has vowed to tackle.

Fire and council bosses in the region have worked to convince families of the importance of smoke alarms.

Chief Fire Officer Iain Bathgate said: "It is our overall ambition to get a working smoke alarm in every home. We continue to see big improvements in the level of smoke alarm ownership, which has been increasing over the years and all new homes are now fitted with hard-wired smoke alarms. There is no doubt this is playing a key part in the early warning of fires.

"Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service offer free home safety checks to people considered at greater risk of fire. Whenever the service carries out a home safety check we fit battery smoke alarms where none exist. It is still a concern however that some households do not have them.

"Smoke alarms are simple to fit and very cheap yet they are vitally important protection and I urge every householder to fit a working smoke alarm and make sure they check the batteries regularly. The first few minutes during a fire are vital. Having a working smoke alarm could mean the difference between life and death."

RoSPA spokesperson Carl Christopher said: "RoSPA would like to see a requirement for mains-wired alarms to be fitted to homes at the time of refurbishment or re- wiring.

"Smoke alarms have made a major contribution to reducing deaths in house fires. RoSPA would encourage everyone to have a smoke alarm fitted, preferably mains-wired. If battery alarms are to be used, sealed units containing long-life batteries should be chosen."

A spokesman for Communities and Local Government said: "Our sympathy goes to the family of Jackson Chard.

"The Government has considered making the installation of smoke alarms mandatory in domestic buildings but this was deemed impractical. It was felt to infringe too severely on the rights of individual householders and there would be no reasonably practical way of enforcing such a requirement.

"Since 1992, Building Regulations require all new dwellings to have smoke alarms, and there are further regulations for the common parts of flats. For existing properties, we pursue a policy of persuasion and education on benefits of having a working smoke alarm."

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