South Yorkshire Times, March 9th, 1934
Burnt Child
Another Flannelette Tragedy
No Fireguard
The Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H Carlile) held an inquest at the Montagu Hospital on Monday on Ada Francis (10) daughter of Frederick William Francis (miner), 7, Lansdown Avenue, Thurnscoe. The mother, Bertha Francis, said that about 7-30 a.m. last Thursday she was half-way downstairs when she heard a scream and her daughter rushed to the foot of the stairs, her flannelette nightdress in flames. “I caught hold of her, rolled her into the hearthrug and did my best to put out the flame.” said the mother. She then called Mrs. Burkes from across the street and sent for Dr. McColm who ordered the girl’s removal to hospital.
Mrs. Francis added that before her husband left home for work about five o’clock, he lighted a fire in the kitchen. “Ada had gone downstairs to dress, and it was the first time she had done it for three years.”
Coroner: Did she tell you how this happened? – She said she was standing on the kerb reaching for a comb off the mantle-shelf when her nightdress caught fire.
And the nightdress was of flannelette? – Yes.
Have you a fireguard? – We do not need one because the children are never left alone.
Are there any younger children? – A girl aged four.
Coroner: You should have a fire guard.
Witness: There is little room in the kitchen for one.
The Coroner: By law you are bound to have one where there are children under seven. Perhaps you will get one because it is better to have less room than to increase danger. Will you get one? – Yes.
Frances Burken, 8, Salisbury Avenue, Thurnscoe, said that when she got to the Francis’s home Mrs. Francis had the girl in her arms, attempting to keep the flames from the girl’s face. “The top of the nightdress was still alight and I tore it off.”
Dr. Ursula Nutt, house surgeon at the Montau Hospital said that when the girl was admitted she was suffering from severe burns on the back and front of the body and was badly shocked. Death occurred the following day.
The corner, recording a verdict of “Accidental Death” said that in most cases of this kind flannelette was the material involved. “Yet if we make any comments, we generally get a letter of protest from te Flannelette Association sating that the material is not inflammable. However, it seems to be that flannelette catches fire very easily and there is no doubt that it is a material which gives rise to this sort of accident.” The Coroner added that sufficient stress could not be laid on the fact that fireguards must be provided in every home where there were children under seven years old. They were most essential.