Islington (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A woman has died seven months after suffering critical injuries in a fire that engulfed her flat in Islington, prompting renewed safety concerns.
Crews were summoned to the scene of the incident in Northchurch Road, Islington, De Beauvoir, just before nine in the morning on January 27.
Clothing kept too close to a heater was the cause, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB). After sustaining burns and inhaling hazardous smoke, the woman and two males were sent to the hospital.
On Thursday of last week, August 14, she died from her wounds.
An LFB spokesperson said:
“Sadly one woman has died following a fire at a flat on Northchurch Road in Islington. The fire was caused by clothing stored too close to a heater.
Two men were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service. One woman was also taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. Sadly she passed away due to her injuries on Thursday, August 14.
The Brigade was called at 8.53am and the fire was under control by 9.43am. One fire engine and around seven firefighters from Islington fire station attended the scene.”
What safety or building issues were identified after the blaze?
There are often outstanding fire safety problems, including the presence of combustible cladding or unsafe building materials that facilitate rapid fire spread. Such issues remain prevalent in many existing buildings despite regulatory efforts post-Grenfell.
Problems like wedged-open smoke doors, blocked fire escapes, or malfunctioning fire alarm systems can exacerbate fire hazards and reduce evacuation effectiveness.
Many older buildings may not comply with modern building regulations or fire safety codes, which increases risks during fires. A shortage of skilled fire risk assessors and enforcement difficulties mean that many safety problems go unidentified or unaddressed.