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Aberdeen flat fire that killed two sisters was caused by candles, investigation reveals
Overview
A joint police and fire investigation has revealed that a fatal fire in Aberdeen in January 2024, which killed sisters Shikshya and Aanchal Subedi, was started by candles in a flat below. According to a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service incident report obtained via a Freedom of Information request, a mattress ignited and a lithium battery caused the fire to spread rapidly. The victims, aged 24 and 28, were trapped by smoke. The family has since instructed a law firm to help them find answers, while the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service concluded that no further action was required.
Key points
- Sisters Shikshya (24) and Aanchal (28) Subedi died in a fire at a block of flats on Back Hilton Road in Aberdeen in January 2024.
- A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service report found the blaze started from candles in a lower flat bedroom that ignited a mattress.
- A lithium-ion battery caused the fire to spread rapidly throughout the building.
- The victims were reportedly already dead from smoke entrapment by the time firefighters arrived.
- The family appointed a law firm, Digby Brown, to seek further answers regarding the incident.
- The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service stated that a thorough investigation concluded no further action was required.