Mother, 28, died in fire 'started by a child playing with a lighter'

House fire which killed mother-of-two, 28, was started after a child playing with a cigarette lighter set fire to a teddy bear, inquest hears

• Chloe Doggett died following a house fire in South Wales in September last year
• The 28-year-old was staying at a house in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valleys
• Firefighters pulled her from property as flames ripped through terraced house
• Ms Doggett rushed to Morriston hospital but pronounced dead on September 24
• Today an inquest heard how a child in the property admitted to starting the fire 
• All adults in the house were smokers and there were numerous lighters around

A house fire which killed a mother-of-two was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter, an inquest found today.

Chloe Doggett, 28, was staying at a house in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, on September 21 last year when she became trapped by the blaze.

Firefighters pulled her from the property as flames ripped through the top floor of the three-storey terraced house.

Despite attempts to save her, Ms Doggett was pronounced dead three days later, on September 24, at Morriston Hospital.

South Wales Police initially questioned Ms Doggett’s boyfriend over the incident but the criminal investigation was dropped after one of the children in the property admitted starting the fire.

In a statement read to Pontypridd Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, Detective Constable Stacey Vincent, who interviewed the child, confirmed they had ‘described starting the fire and using a lighter’.

Ms Vincent said she was also aware the child had told a family member they had set fire to a ‘teddy bear’.

All the adults in the house were smokers and the coroner was told numerous lighters and ashtrays were found throughout the property.

Chloe Doggett (pictured), 28, was staying at a house in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, on September 21 last year when she became trapped by the blaze

Firefighters pulled her from the property as flames ripped through the top floor of the three-storey terraced house (pictured)

Fire safety manager Stephen Morgan told the court an investigation by the fire service into the cause of the fire found it had started in the children’s bedroom and was most probably caused by a naked flame being placed against a combustible material.

The court also heard there were no fire alarms or other fire safety equipment in the house, and those inside were unaware of the fire until members of the public told them they could see black smoke billowing from the top floor windows.

At the same time of the first call to the fire service at 4.37pm, Ms Doggett and her boyfriend were in his bedroom on the top floor.

Ms Doggett was on FaceTime call to her best friend Phillipa Stevens, who said in a statement that ‘Chloe was happy in herself’.

But then Ms Stevens said she heard what sounded like a woman shouting and then a man shouting ‘Chloe’.

She said Ms Doggett got up from the bed and appeared to move towards the door ‘with intensity’, tossing her phone to ground.

Ms Doggett’s boyfriend told the court that after hearing shouting he opened the bedroom door and instantly noticed smoke.

He said he saw a child in the room opposite which was becoming engulfed by flames, and said: ‘My natural instinct was to run through the fire and grab the child.

‘I didn’t realise Chloe was still in the bedroom until I got outside.’

The inquest heard that while Ms Doggett’s boyfriend managed to leave the house, she remained in the bedroom.  

An off-duty firefighter and several other men joined him in trying to rescue Ms Doggett but they were unable to get up the stairs due to black smoke covering the landing.

Attempts were made to break the bedroom window from the outside using a paint can, hammer and step-ladder, but they were unsuccessful.

Blood pattern analysis expert Penelope Griffiths said injuries to Ms Doggett’s arms and body and blood found on the window, bedroom door and wardrobe were consistent with her trying break the window to escape.

Ms Doggett had managed to remove the secondary double-glazing unit, cutting herself in the process, before becoming unconscious from severe smoke inhalation, the coroner concluded.

Assistant coroner Gaynor Kynaston said: ‘I accept and find that the fire was started in bedroom two and that the fire was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter.

‘Despite her attempts to escape the scene, Chloe was rendered unconscious by smoke inhalation.’

Chloe Doggett, 28, was staying at a house in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, on September 21 last year when she became trapped by the blaze. Firefighters pulled her from the property as flames ripped through the top floor of the three-storey terraced house.

Mrs Kynaston ruled Ms Doggett’s death was an accident.

Turning to Ms Doggett’s family, she said: ‘It is quite obvious from the number of people in court that she was very well loved by you all and will be greatly missed by you and her children.

‘This is a tragic, tragic death and one that will stay with me.’

After her death in September last year, one friend said: ‘You were the kindest soul I’ve ever met too beautiful and kind for this world!

‘Maybe it’s true what they say, God takes the best ones first! You were so loved by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting you!

‘Fly high you amazing girl, until we meet again angel.’

Another said: ‘You were the purest most beautiful soul, you will be missed so much but remembered by the whole bloody world! Love you forever my girl.’

A fundraising page described Chloe has a ‘complete ray of sunshine’ with the ‘ biggest heart and such a bubbly personality.’

Her mother Emma Doggett said after the hearing: ‘She was just the most kind person who would do anything and help anyone. She would not see anyone struggle. 

‘She was really bubbly and went through a lot with her children through no fault of her own. She was a good mother.’

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