Wheat bags ‘spontaneously ignited’, causing fatal Hobart fire: coroner

A coroner has warned against the use of wheat-filled heat packs without instructions after an innocent act proved fatal for one woman last year.

Anyone using a wheat pack without instructions should stop immediately, a coroner has warned.

Tasmanian coroner Andrew McKee made the recommendation after investigating the death of 90-year-old Phyllis Pears who died in an accidental house fire in West Moonah, Hobart on May 29, 2019.

He found her cause of death was incineration and her “limited mobility” played a factor.

“It is clear … Mrs Pears had been in the process of heating wheat packs when the fire started,” Mr McKee said, noting a report from Fire Investigation Officer Mark McCarthy.

The document states: “The wheat bags have been heated in the microwave and placed in a pile on a chair against the roller door between the kitchen and the living room.

“Due to being piled, the wheat bag has been unable to give off heat and has self-heated to the point of igniting the combustible material bag and a small amount of wheat. This has caused a small, isolated fire.”

He said the inability for it to release heat caused the wheat and bag to “spontaneously ignite”.

Officer McCarthy opined the “probable chain of events” included the elderly woman either attempting to extinguish the fire or “leaning over the pile of wheat bags at ignition”, resulting in her clothing catching alight.

A neighbour called triple-0 after hearing a kitchen window shatter. Picture: Luke Bowden

WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY

Mrs Pears was born in Queenstown, Tasmania in 1929, had two children and previously worked as a primary school teacher.

At the time of her death, she lived independently with carer support and was visited by multiple family members most days, while her husband Horace Pears lived in a nursing home.

According to the coroner’s report, on May 28 last year – the day before she died – Mrs Pears told her carer she was not feeling well, “suffered a medical event” and was taken to hospital.

The next day, she was discharged and taken home.

Her grand-daughter-in-law visited and Mrs Pears told her she had a kidney infection.

She offered to make the 90-year-old “something to eat and offered to warm up a heat pack” but Mrs Pears declined both offers and the younger woman left shortly after 1.45pm.

“At approximately 2.20pm Mrs Pears’ neighbour … heard the sound of breaking glass,” the coronial report states.

“He went outside and saw that the kitchen window of Mrs Pears’ residence had shattered.

“He observed black smoke discharging from the broken window and flames in the kitchen. He immediately contacted triple-0.”

Police and firefighters arrived at the scene but after the blaze was extinguished, she was found in the kitchen deceased.

“I am satisfied as a result of the police investigation that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mrs Pears’ death,” Mr McKee said.

In tributes published in The Mercury, Mrs Pears is remembered as a “beautiful lady always there for everyone” and a “cherished” great-grandmother who is “sleeping peacefully now”.

“Now flying with the butterflies,” one notice reads.

“She will live on in our hearts forever.”

Another reads: “Against the odds you contributed so much and embraced life to the full. Rest now in God’s care my dear sister. Always remembered with love.”

According to tributes, her husband Horace Henry died four months later in 2019, aged 94.

Phyllis Pears, 90, died in a house fire in Hobart in May 2019. Picture: Luke Bowden

CORONER’S WHEAT PACK WARNING

The coroner expressed his sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mrs Pears.

He made two recommendations, including: “That individuals in possession of wheat packs without instructions as to their use immediately cease use of such wheat packs.”

Mr McKee’s second recommendation was for members of the public to familiarise themselves with the Tasmania Fire Service’s home fire safety fact sheet on wheat packs prior to any use.

It warns the packs or bags “have the potential to cause burns and fire if improperly used”.

“Firefighters have responded to numerous house fires that have occurred due to wheat bags overheating in microwave ovens or wheat bags being used to warm bedding materials,” it states.

An 80-year-old woman died in Sydney in 2011 after a fire from a wheat bag in her bed.

WHAT TO DO

* Ensure the wheat bag you purchase comes with instructions and follow them carefully, especially when heating. Ensure the timer on the microwave oven is correctly set when heating your wheat bag. Accidentally setting 30 minutes instead of three minutes is easy to do and has caused fatal fires.

* Only use wheat bags for direct application to body aches and pains. Wheat bags can ignite, and are not designed for warming beds.

* Regularly check your wheat bag for signs of wear and tear or scorching. With age the wheat dries out and can catch fire.

* If your wheat bag begins to smoulder or catches fire ring triple-0 immediately.

* Fragrant oils added to the wheat bag may increase the fire risk.

WHAT NOT TO DO

* Don’t overheat a wheat bag by placing in the microwave longer than specified by the manufacturer.

* Don’t leave the wheat bag unsupervised in the microwave.

* Don’t let anyone, particularly children or the elderly sleep with a wheat bag.

* Don’t use the wheat bag to warm your bed up, as it may spontaneously ignite.

* Don’t reheat the wheat bag before it has properly cooled.

* A wheat bag should be cooled down on a non-combustible service before storing.

Source: Tasmania Fire Service

Originally published as Wheat bags ‘spontaneously ignited’, causing fatal Hobart fire: coroner