Mar 21 2011 Flintshire Chronicle
A MUM died in a house fire as her two-year-old son was rescued.
Tributes have poured in for Kirsty Weaver, 31, of Buckley, whose body was discovered at her home by firefighters in the early hours of Saturday (March 19).
They rescued her little boy from the smoke-logged house, and he was taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
He was yesterday (Sunday) in a stable condition. A pet dog was also saved from the house in Fraser Drive.
A neighbour raised the alarm to the fire, which damaged the TV in the living room and filled it with acrid smoke that started to spread through the rest of the house.
An investigation by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service concluded the cause was probably a candle left unattended near the television in the living room. There were no working smoke alarms at the house.
North Wales Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
Yesterday flowers were piled up against the front door of Ms Weaver – a testament to her popularity in the area.
One note said: “We will miss you. Lots of love Emma, Baggy, Ashton and baby bump.”
Neighbour Colin Smith said: “Kirsty was always jolly and always smiling, it is a real tragedy.”
Family friend Ann Jones said: “Kirsty was a really lovely girl, and was very popular with people.”
Buckley councillor Ron Hampson said: “She was a really pleasant young girl, I would see her sometimes working in Gerrards in the precinct.
“It is a great tragedy and local people are very shocked. The only blessing is the little boy was rescued.”
Tributes were also being posted on social networking website Facebook.
John Morgan wrote: “RIP Kirsty always in our hearts and never forgotten.”
The family were too upset to speak yesterday.
The alarm was raised by police at 2.50am on Saturday after they received a call from a neighbour.
A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “Police attended and officers noticed the windows of the property were black and hot and called the fire and rescue service.
“Fire crews from Buckley and Mold attended and discovered the body of the woman. Three teams of firefighters using breathing apparatus and hose reel jets tackled the fire.
“A two year old boy was rescued from the building. He was transferred to hospital where he received treatment for smoke inhalation and is now in a stable condition.
“The family pet dog was also rescued from the property by firefighters.”
An inquest will now be opened into Ms Weaver’s death.
NWFRS Assistant Chief Fire Officer Colin Hanks said: “This is a tragic incident and our hearts go out to the family.
“It has emerged that there was no working smoke alarm at this property and I would therefore urge everyone to ensure they fit smoke alarms in their homes – they really can mean the different between life and death.
“This, in a weekend where two children have also died in a house fire in Bristol, the cause of which is being investigated. Please do not put off fitting a smoke alarm to your home.
“The early warning signal provided by a smoke alarm can provide enough time to call for help and to make your way safely out of a property.
“Firefighters will be in the Buckley area offering free home fire safety checks to residents this week.”
To register for a free home fire safety check, phone 0800 169 1234, e-mail cfs@nwales-fireservice.org.uk, log on to www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk or text 88365, prefixing the message with the word HFSC.