Redwood Grove: Inquest hears how woman who set fire to neighbour's property died from the explosion

The Redwood Grove explosion happened in July of last year

Published 22nd Mar 2023

A woman who used petrol to set fire to a neighbour's flat in Bedford died after it caused an explosion, an inquest has heard.

The blast last summer could be heard half a mile away - three other people, including a firefighter, were taken to hospital.

A coroner's concluded that Reena James, who was 43 and from Redwood Grove, died as a result of misadventure.

It happened on the 4th of July, 2022, when emergency services were called out to an explosion and fire just after 9am.

Since the events, police said: "Entry was likely to have been forced into that flat, after which several areas were doused in a flammable liquid. The vapour from this accelerant became so great that, when it was ignited, it caused an explosion followed by the fire which took hold of the building."

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