Overheated phone battery caused fatal fire at historic Shrewsbury home
A coroner has concluded that an 81-year-old woman died in a tragic accident after a mobile phone battery overheated, sparking a blaze that destroyed a landmark 15th-century building in Shrewsbury town centre.
Dorothy Rose Roberts, known to friends and family as Rose, was killed on 27 January when fire tore through Perches House On Windsor Place. An inquest at Shrewsbury Coroner’s Court heard that the fire was the result of "thermal runaway" within a lithium-ion battery.
The court was told how Ms Roberts’ tenant, Luke Harrison, was awoken at approximately 3.24 am by a loud explosion that caused pictures to fall from his walls. Mr Harrison recounted a harrowing attempt to save his landlady.
Despite his desperate efforts to breach the door, the intensity of the flames and thick smoke forced him back. He then attempted to reach her via a ladder, but the window "blew out" before he could gain access.
Fire Rapidly Spread
Fire crews from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene just four minutes after the emergency call. Fire investigator Ross Donnelly described "hazardous" conditions and "poor visibility" as crews entered the Grade II-listed property.
Using thermal imaging cameras, firefighters eventually discovered Ms Roberts’ body seated in a chair near a window. The inquest heard that her mobile phone had been charging near the head of her bed, in close proximity to combustible bedding.
The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to the structural nature of the 15th-century building. Mr Donnelly explained that the timber-framed voids and "wattle and daub" partitions allowed the flames to move quickly through the internal structure, while the failure of the window provided a rush of oxygen that further fuelled the combustion.
A Legacy Lost
Forensic pathologists confirmed that the thermal effects of the fire were "incompatible with life." While evidence suggested Ms Roberts was alive when the fire began, experts believe she would have become unconscious "extremely quickly" due to the smoke and heat. No suspicious injuries were found.
Ms Roberts was described by her daughter, Jessica Richards, as a "very determined lady" who had been instrumental in preserving and restoring Perches House over the forty years she resided there. The historic building, a well-known feature of the Shrewsbury townscape, suffered catastrophic damage in the blaze.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Heath Westerman noted that the tragedy represented not only the heartbreaking loss of a mother and friend but also the loss of a significant piece of Shrewsbury’s architectural heritage.
