This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7306165.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Flat fire deaths 'preventable' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Two teenagers died in a chip pan fire because their smoke alarm battery was flat, the fire service has revealed. | Two teenagers died in a chip pan fire because their smoke alarm battery was flat, the fire service has revealed. |
| Stephen Boyle, 19 and Danny McKenna, 18, were carried from the blaze at their Edinburgh flat in the early hours of Thursday. | Stephen Boyle, 19 and Danny McKenna, 18, were carried from the blaze at their Edinburgh flat in the early hours of Thursday. |
| Mr Boyle was pronounced dead at the scene while Mr McKenna was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, but died later from breathing in smoke. | Mr Boyle was pronounced dead at the scene while Mr McKenna was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, but died later from breathing in smoke. |
| The fire broke out at about 0300 GMT in the property in the Wester Hailes area. | The fire broke out at about 0300 GMT in the property in the Wester Hailes area. |
| Upstairs neighbour Graham Carr, 21, had to be rescued through his kitchen window by fire fighters using breathing apparatus and a ladder. | Upstairs neighbour Graham Carr, 21, had to be rescued through his kitchen window by fire fighters using breathing apparatus and a ladder. |
| He said: "I first heard shouting and screaming form the flat downstairs at about 0240 GMT. It sounded like they were throwing furniture about. I just thought they were having an argument, but now it looks like they were trying to escape the fire. | He said: "I first heard shouting and screaming form the flat downstairs at about 0240 GMT. It sounded like they were throwing furniture about. I just thought they were having an argument, but now it looks like they were trying to escape the fire. |
| It looks very much like the fire started in the kitchen and although there was a smoke alarm it appears as though the battery was flat David MallinCommunity Safety Officer | It looks very much like the fire started in the kitchen and although there was a smoke alarm it appears as though the battery was flat David MallinCommunity Safety Officer |
| "About 15 minutes later my girlfriend Lesley told me she could smell smoke. I opened my front door and was beaten back by the thick smoke which was right through the whole stair. | |
| "Luckily, Lesley managed to get down stairs but I couldn't get through the smoke. I opened the kitchen window and was helped out by two firemen. Thank God they were there because by that point I was finding it hard to breathe." | "Luckily, Lesley managed to get down stairs but I couldn't get through the smoke. I opened the kitchen window and was helped out by two firemen. Thank God they were there because by that point I was finding it hard to breathe." |
| David Mallin, community safety officer for Lothian and Borders Fire Service, said there was a smoke alarm installed in the flat but its battery had been flat. | David Mallin, community safety officer for Lothian and Borders Fire Service, said there was a smoke alarm installed in the flat but its battery had been flat. |
| He said: "On arrival, we forced entry to the flat and found one male lying in the hall and another in the living room. | He said: "On arrival, we forced entry to the flat and found one male lying in the hall and another in the living room. |
| "We removed both males from the scene and applied CPR and oxygen to both. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts one male subsequently died at the scene. | "We removed both males from the scene and applied CPR and oxygen to both. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts one male subsequently died at the scene. |
| "It looks very much like the fire started in the kitchen and although there was a smoke alarm it appears as though the battery was flat. | "It looks very much like the fire started in the kitchen and although there was a smoke alarm it appears as though the battery was flat. |
| "All council tenants can arrange free home safety checks and I would urge more people to use this service in order to avoid such a terrible tragedy." | "All council tenants can arrange free home safety checks and I would urge more people to use this service in order to avoid such a terrible tragedy." |
| The teenagers only moved into the area six month ago. It is believed to be their first home away from their families. | The teenagers only moved into the area six month ago. It is believed to be their first home away from their families. |