Elderly man killed in fire named

A 85-year-old man who died when an electric fire set bedroom drawers alight has been named as Henry Moller.

Mr Moller had restricted mobility and it is thought that may have prevented him from escaping the blaze at his New Quay home in Ceredigion.

Police said the incident at Lewis Terrace on Tuesday is now being treated as an accidental fire.

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned on Thursday by the Ceredigion coroner.

Police said their investigation found the fire appeared to have started when a lit two-bar electric fire was left almost directly beneath the top drawer of a chest in the man's bedroom.

Flashover

They said the chest of drawers was then set alight and this was believed to be the seat of the fire.

"It is believed the fire was accidentally started when the occupier inadvertently left a fire on in very close proximity to a combustible material for a prolonged period of time," said Det Insp Greg Williams, of Dyfed-Powys Police.

"Due to the nature of the house this has led quickly to a "flashover" within the property."

He said both police and fire services urged the public to be vigilant about unattended fires and other heat sources.

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