Piles of combustible materials such as old newspapers or boxes increase the potential for a devastating fire, while tightly stacked piles are crafted into narrow paths, which may be difficult to navigate in an emergency or smoke-filled room.
The situation may be so bad objects block or impede exits, potentially trapping a person.
This may be the case in the blaze that killed a man in a Talbot Avenue home yesterday.
Neighbours described the homeowner as a hoarder whose house was bursting at the seams with belongings..." More
