Coroner urges fire link-up

Just two weeks ago, the borough's coroner Mr Simon Nelson expressed amazement that the local authority did not take advantage of a service provided by firefighters to supply and install the lifesaving units in the homes of vulnerable people.

His comments came during an inquest into the death of Miss Ruth Shapiro who died with her pet dog at her feet in a house fire last year. Miss Shapiro of Dalton Avenue, Whitefield, was under the care and supervision of Bury's social services after suffering from depression and mental health problems for years.

Mr Nelson had commented: "I find it incredible that where someone is determined as vulnerable and seen on a regular basis by care staff, that there is no provision for smoke alarms to be fitted in private properties. I will be writing to the local authority and the director of social services about my views in the hope they will be acted upon."

But council chiefs have stressed that they are keen to encourage the installation of smoke alarms but a distinction had to be made between council properties -- which were already subject to a programme of installation -- and private homes where the council was not in a position to impose smoke alarms on people.

Pat Horan, Bury Council's Assistant director of adult services, said that the inquest was told by a council social worker that Miss Shapiro had been offered a smoke alarm by the council and had refused.

She said: "When council properties are rewired, a smoke alarm is fitted as a matter of course and otherwise battery-powered alarms are fitted in all unoccupied properties prior to being re-let regardless of whether the tenant is vulnerable or is a client of social services.

"The council also completed a scheme several years ago to fit smoke alarms in every property occupied by tenants considered to be vulnerable unless the tenant failed to respond or simply denied access. Alarms are also fitted upon request."