Investigators rule out foul play in carer’s fire death

Jan 30 2008 by Katie Norman, South Wales Echo

FIRE investigators have been working to find the cause of the mystery blaze which killed a popular care home worker.

Jane Taylor, 47, died after flames gutted her home in Western Drive, Gabalfa, Cardiff, on Sunday night.

A team of police and fire officers spent two days examining the cause of the fire.

While they worked, friends and well-wishers visited the house to leave flowers in memory of Mrs Taylor. She has been described as a “special and friendly” woman, who had been due to pick up an award for 25 years of service at Gabalfa’s Cathedral View Care Home this June.

After an attempt to investigate the cause of the blaze on Monday, investigators yesterday returned to the house.

Chief investigator Mick Flanagan said: “We worked hard on the first day but it got dark before we reached our conclusion. There were some things we weren’t happy with, so we went back for another look.

“We’ve finished at the scene now and we’re satisfied we’ve found the cause of the fire. We’re not allowed to reveal what that is at this stage, but the fire is not thought to have been suspicious.

“We believe the cause to have been possibly accidental, and we would like to remind everyone of the importance of having a working smoke alarm.

“They do save lives.”