AN inquest has heard how a woman who died in a house fire had disconnected her smoke alarms from the mains electricity supply.

The fire brigade has warned members of the public to ensure their alarms are in working order following the hearing into the death of Paulene Nixon.

Mrs Nixon, 49, died at her home in Malvern Crescent, in the Branksome area of Darlington, in April last year.

Yesterday, Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle recorded a verdict of accidental death after hearing how the fire at Mrs Nixon’s upstairs flat could have been started by a discarded cigarette, which she may have believed was extinguished.

The inquest heard how, on the day of her death, Mrs Nixon, who had two adult children and five grandchildren, was not feeling well.

It is thought she may have had something to drink before lying down.

Lee Aspery, a fire investigation manager for the fire brigade, said when firefighters entered the flat it was filled with dense smoke down to ankle height.

Mrs Nixon was found on the floor, just feet from the bed, and firefighters took her outside and tried to revive her.

The mattress of the bed had been totally consumed right down to the springs.

He said: “There’s a thing known as mattress phenomenon where a very hot and very intense fire rages entirely within a mattress, inside the cavity, and eventually burns its way through the sides and corners.

“It’s a very, very high temperature, up to 1,000 degrees Centigrade, with lots of smoke.”

Mr Aspery said fire regulations meant a mattress had to be able to withstand a match or cigarette burning for up to three minutes.

However, he believed a plastic bag which had been filled with cigarette ends and tissues may have acted as an accelerant.

The bin was full of similar bags and there was evidence that there had been previous, smaller, fires in the flat.

It was believed Mrs Nixon had disconnected the smoke alarms because they kept on going off.

Mr Aspery said although the alarms were hardwired and not battery operated, the circuit board trip switch for the alarms was tripped.

After the inquest, Steve Wharton, the deputy community safety manager for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue, said: “Fire alarms give the earliest indication of a fire and can make a huge difference.

“If they’re going off unwanted, then it could be that there’s a fault, or they could just be doing the job they’re designed to do.

“Switching them off isn’t the answer.

“Anyone who wants advice is encouraged to contact us, and if necessary we can fit smoke alarms for free.”