Flat fire deaths 'preventable'

The fire service said the smoke alarm battery was flat

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.

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.

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.

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 Mallin Community 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."

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.

"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.

"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.