A 20-YEAR-OLD boatbuilder died of smoke inhalation after a late-night chip pan fire at his home on the Devon and Somerset border.

Howard Whipp was found dead by firefighters in a bedroom of a rented bungalow in Yarcombe, near Honiton, in May last year.

Smoke was seen coming from the three-bedroom property by neighbour David Little. He bravely searched the smoke-filled building as best he could before dialling 999.

Retained firefighters from Chard were on the scene in 14 minutes and found that the fire, which started on the kitchen hob, had gone out. They found the body of Mr Whipp on the floor of a nearby bedroom.

An inquest held in Exeter yesterday was told that Mr Whipp, known as Howie, had been seen drinking in Chard after finishing work at Lyme Boats at lunchtime.

A post-mortem examination showed that he had 200mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system. The drink driving limit is 80mg. He had died of smoke inhalation.

Station manager Keith Pascoe, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the "most likely cause" of the blaze was "a traditional chip pan having been put on a hot ring and then left unattended".

"Oil will self-ignite at 100C which is achievable on an electric cooker," he said. "In effect, it becomes a liquid fuel fire which creates a significant amount of heat as it burns".

Work colleague and housemate Gary Holley, who was not at the bungalow on the night of the fire, said they had both previously used the cooker after returning from nights out.

Exeter and Greater Devon deputy coroner Darren Salter was told that there was no smoke alarm fitted in the rented bungalow, which is not required by law.

Mr Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death and said he intended to raise the issue of smoke alarms with Department for Communities and Local Government.

"I will request that there be a review and a response from the minister responsible about whether smoke detection could be made mandatory in rented domestic dwellings."