A mobility scooter battery is suspected to be the cause of a fatal fire at an Adelaide retirement village, killing a resident and hospitalising his wife.
The fire broke out at the unit of Trevor, 83, and Grace, 81, Fielden – where they lived for almost eight years – at the Crestview Retirement Village in Hillcrest about 10pm Monday night which sadly claimed the life of the devoted husband.
Mrs Fielden managed to escape the blaze with minor injuries but was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.
SA Police attended the scene to help evacuate the resident and said extensive damage of about $250,000 was caused to the property and the adjoining unit but thankfully next-door neighbours were not home at the time.
The company that operates the village, Aveo, told The Advertiser that an investigation was underway to identify the cause of the fire but that early reports from first responders suggested a charging mobility scooter battery could be responsible.
Aveo’s chief executive officer, Tony Randello, said the company’s “thoughts are with their family at this very sad time”.
It took 24 Metropolitan Fire Service firefighters and five appliance vehicles an hour to put out the fire and prevent further damage to the third unit.
A woman who lives in the property adjacent to the village told 7News she called triple-0 after she was alerted to the fire by her dog’s barking. She could also allegedly feel the heat and smoke and heard a woman in distress.
“You could hear her banging on the security screen, calling out.”
A respected and longstanding member of the Prospect Broadview Bowling Club, Mr Fielden was remembered in a memorial posted online by the club.
“Trevor you will be missed by all at PBBC,” it wrote.
The investigation of the cause is ongoing.
Good afternoon, should mobility scooters be charged under carports or back verandahs perhaps.