An investigation into a fire which severely damaged a home in Hampton, Cambs. on the 2 January has found that the tenant removed a fire door because it was blocking her view of the television.
A family, including a three-year-old girl, were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after running down stairs to escape the fire in Eagle Way, Hampton Vale.
Fire chiefs from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have said that the blaze spread so quickly and was so intense because the fire door separating the lounge and kitchen area from the stairwell had been removed.
Cross Keys Homes, which owns the property, has now completed its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire door’s removal.A spokeswoman for Cross Keys Homes said: “The tenant removed the fire door herself.
“We are not sure when this happened but she removed it because it was blocking the view to her television. “This is something we do not condone and the tenant has been made aware of this issue.”
The blaze severely damaged the home and destroyed many of the family’s possessions leaving them without any furniture and the children without their new Christmas toys.