House fire that killed man and dog caused by candle
BBCA house fire that killed a man and his dog was caused by a candle, the fire service has said.
Mark Fawke died after the blaze broke out at his home in Wallasey, Wirral, on Monday.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were called to the semi-detached house on Beaufort Drive just after 20:30 BST.
Fawke was rescued from the building but pronounced dead by paramedics before arriving at Arrowe Park Hospital. His dog died at the scene.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the cause earlier, and urged people to take extra care when using candles.
"Candles can create a warm and relaxing atmosphere in the home, particularly as the evenings get darker and winter approaches," head of prevention Kevin Johnson said.
"However, if they are not used safely, they can quickly start a fire with devastating consequences.
"Our figures show that candle-related fires continue to pose a risk, with the majority of these incidents occurring during the autumn and winter period and many taking place during the evening and overnight."
Between 1 October 2025 and 30 September this year there were 33 accidental fires in homes across Merseyside caused by candles, the service said.
"We would urge everyone to think carefully about how and where they use candles," Johnson continued.
"Never leave a lit candle unattended, always extinguish it when leaving a room or going to bed, and keep candles well away from anything that could catch fire."
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