Vape caused fire that killed Chamiah Brindley, 6, court hears

Vape caused fire that killed Chamiah Brindley, 6, court hears

An inquest revealed that a tragic house fire that took the life of a six-year-old girl named Chamiah Brindley, known affectionately as Miah, was caused by a vape pen left charging in her room. The blaze occurred in the early hours of September 10, 2024, on the third floor of her home in Bedale Drive, Leicester. The lithium-ion battery of the vape pen caught fire, leading to the devastating outcome.

Chamiah’s family members attempted to rescue her by breaking down the door to her room, but the flames and thick smoke hindered their efforts. Additionally, skylights in the room had been sealed shut, adding further complications to the rescue operation. Tracey Moore, the mother of the victim, recounted being alerted to the fire by one of her daughters and rushing to ensure the safety of her family members before realizing that Chamiah was still inside the house.

During the inquest at Leicester Town Hall, it was revealed that the property was occupied by three adults and 10 children at the time of the fire. Months prior to the incident, the hard-wired smoke alarms in the house had been removed, and precautions, such as nailing shut skylights, were taken to prevent children from accessing the roof. Firefighters arrived at the scene, but unfortunately, Chamiah could not be saved and was pronounced dead shortly after the fire started.

Fire officer Dean Thornton mentioned in the hearing that multiple vapes were found in Chamiah’s room, with one particular rechargeable device and charger identified as the source of the fire. While the exact reason behind the device catching fire could not be definitively determined, authorities confirmed that a 14-year-old girl who had been initially arrested in connection to the incident would not face further action. Despite efforts to trace the origin of the vape pen involved, investigators were unable to determine its source. The inquest is set to conclude on the following day

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